Coronavirus ‘Could Wipe out Brazil’s Indigenous People’

This news story explains the impact of COVID-19 on the indigenous communities in Brazil. Doctors predict that COVID-19 has the potential to decimate these communities that already have high mortality rates from respiratory illnesses such as the flu. On April 5, Brazil, “Brazil had reported more than 11,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 486 deaths” (Fellet). In addition, there are fears across Brazil for the indigenous communities and the changes they will face as COVID-19 spreads. As Dr Mendonça says, “everyone gets sick, and you lose all the old people, their wisdom and social organization” (Fellet). This virus will have detrimental and long-lasting effects on these communities in Brazil, with the likelihood of fundamentally changing their societies and traditions. With limited access to healthcare and a society based on close interactions, such as sharing utensils and water, COVID-19 has moved quickly through these groups. They are being encouraged to practice isolation by professionals. Bolsonaro on the other hand has likened COVID-19 to a “little flu” and encouraged society to resume as normal. Indigenous communities are asking people to, “to suspend trips to cities and prevent visitors from entering their territory” (Fellet). These communities that are looking into ways to isolate themselves are worried about their access to food and resources, as they will not be able to enter a city to buy them. Marivelton Baré, president of the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro says, “”if the choice is either being infected or going hungry, most will choose the first,” he warns. “Then the consequences will be dire” (Fellet). This article addresses many concerns and issues the indigenous communities face today in the era of COVID-19.

As Chasteen presents in Blood and Fire, there is a huge discrepancy in the treatments of various groups in Latin America. With the wealthy having access to the means of production, healthcare, and generally access to what first-world countries have access to, the poorer communities do not have this. In fact, as seen with the indigenous communities, they will struggle with the basics needed to combat COVID-19, such ways to self-isolate, access to food, healthcare, medicine, etc. This pandemic, like in many countries worldwide, is demonstrating the ways in which capitalism has created mass inequality that will determine who will live and die in a situation like today.

Fellet, Joao. “Coronavirus ‘Could Wipe out Brazil’s Indigenous People’.” BBC News. BBC, April 6, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52139875?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world/latin_america&link_location=live-reporting-story.