The Brazilian on Tuesday reported the 700,000th death from COVID-19 in the South American nation, which has the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths after the United States.
Brazilian fitness experts say most of those who have died from COVID-19 in recent days are unvaccinated or suffering from other debilitating illnesses.
“The vaccine that was lately available in each and every health unit in Brazil could have replaced the lives of families who have lost loved ones in the pandemic,” the country’s health ministry said.
Health Minister Nisia Trindade criticized former President Jair Bolsonaro for his handling of the pandemic. Bolsonaro, who fell ill with COVID, later refused to get vaccinated and breached fitness restrictions.
“We have to look to the past, but at the same time we have to say that the Ministry of Health cannot make the mistake of not coordinating, not caring, not treating [the disease]. We will have to be united so that new tragedies do not happen,” Trindade said.
Miguel Lago, executive director of Brazil’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, which advises public health officials, said the figure is a reminder of the country’s legal responsibility to punish those who failed to act against the virus or sabotaged those who tried.
“There is a direct duty of public officials, who may have responded to this in a much greater way,” Lago told The Associated Press.
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