Some European countries are already considering lifting some of their lockdown restrictions over the next few weeks. Cases are stabilizing and the health system is getting back on its feet to deal with the high numbers of patients that are affected by the novel coronavirus.
But the situation is very different in other parts of the world, where the struggle is only beginning. Third world countries are set to be the worst hitten both in health and the economy.
It is the case of Brazil. Since the first cases emerged in the biggest economy of South America, President Jair Bolsonaro was keen to minimize the threat of the virus, saying the media was exaggerating and the world was in paranoia. He went further to say that the disease was nothing more than a little flu.
The Brazilian Congress approved a project to help informal workers during this period. According to Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, over 54 million workers will be benefited with the cash aid of R$600 per month for three months. This is the equivalent of around €100 per month.
In Ireland, one of the highest testing per capita countries in the world, the government will cover all of those who lost their jobs because of COVID-19. In the government’s website related to this aid, they say that “You will get a payment of €350 per week. The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be in place for 12 weeks.”
Murilo and Luan are two friends who shared an apartment before the coronavirus crisis started in Curitiba, one of the largest cities in the south of Brazil, in the state of Paraná. Their lives were directly affected by the restrictions put in place.
Below they talk about how coronavirus changed their present and what they think about living in quarantine.
