RIO DE JANEIRO – Dozens of people converged on the cobblestone streets of downtown Rio de Janeiro for its traditional Pedra do Sal samba party — the first since the pandemic began — and it seemed Brazil was returning to normal.
Among those dancing Monday were Luana Jatobá and two friends, all of whom overcame COVID-19. As a nurse technician caring for coronavirus patients, she knows better than most that occupancy rates at Rio's intensive-care units have surged as the city’s seven-day average number of cases reaches its highest level since June.
But, she said, everyone is desperate for a respite from the gloom.“We take care of the people who are sick with COVID, but something that isn’t discussed is that there’s a very serious disease all.