Brazilian capital enters two-week coronavirus lockdown

Brasília, the capital city of Brazil, has entered a two-week coronavirus lockdown as intensive care beds fill up in multiple cities, the Associated Press reports.

The AP reports Brazil recorded 1,541 deaths last Thursday, marking the deadliest day the country has reported since the pandemic started.

Eighty-five percent of beds in the federal district, where Brasília is located, were occupied as of Sunday.

Brasilia Gov. Ibaneis Rocha announced that all bars, restaurants, shopping malls and schools would be closed until March 15. Alcohol sales were barred past 8 p.m.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Brazil ranks second only to the U.S. in terms of coronavirus deaths. The country has confirmed 254,221 deaths and more than 10 million coronavirus cases, according to the university’s tracker.

The AP notes Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rebuked the mitigation measures, writing on Twitter, “The people want to work.”

Bolsonaro reportedly threatened to cut off federal emergency funds to states that issue lockdowns.

Brazil fully approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine last week, though Reuters reports the country does not have any doses to distribute due to disputes over a supply deal. The vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotech have been granted emergency use authorization.