The Leader In COVID-19 Related Deaths Bans Brazilians From Visiting
The United States is restricting Brazilian nationals from entering the US for the foreseeable future. Roughly 378,000 Brazilians have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and 23,000 have died from COVID-19 related complications. In America, those numbers are significantly higher. Over 1.7 million Americans have tested positive for Coronavirus, and nearly 100,000 have died.
“The travel restriction does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), most immediate family members of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, and specific categories of individual visa holders who are identified in the Proclamation,” the American embassy in Brazil notes.
While the current ban doesn’t prevent Americans in Brazil from returning home on commercial flights, things could change if the situation in Latin America deteriorates. “We continue to encourage U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States to make commercial flight arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The COVID-19 pandemic remains an evolving situation, and flight schedules may change with little to no notice. The U.S. government does not currently anticipate arranging repatriation flights from Brazil.”
Brazil now only trails the United States in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, although the disease is rapidly spreading in Peru and Chile. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appears unaffected by the country’s shocking increase in infections. Bolsonaro, who months ago called the pandemic a “media trick”, was even less thoughtful with his words when questioned by reporters this week about the high mortality rate. “So what? What do you want me to do?” he fired back.
He’s honestly like a dumber, less controlled version of #Trump, if such a thing is possible: “So what?” #Bolsonaro said recently when asked by reporters about #Brazil’s mounting fatalities. “What do you want me to do?” https://t.co/bdKQ9jCgbS #coronavirus
— Michael Deibert (@michaelcdeibert) May 26, 2020
In North America, a similar story has been unfolding in the USA. Despite America’s stranglehold on COVID-19 related deaths, the Trump administration is enthusiastically encouraging its own citizens to return to work, stores, beaches, hotels, planes, and schools. And medical experts have predicted a surge in new infections thanks to thousands of travelers ignoring social distancing guidelines during Memorial Day weekend.
Eric has revolved in and out of passport controls for over 20 years. From his first archaeological field school in Belize to rural villages in Ethiopia and Buddhist temples in Laos, Eric has come smile to smile with all walks of life. A writer, photographer and entrepreneur, the LA native believes the power of connectivity and community is enriched through travel.