Brazil's court rules government must protect tribes from coronavirus
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS AUGUST 5, 2020 / 6:20 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Brazil's court rules government must protect tribes from coronavirus
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazils Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that President Jair Bolsonaros government must adopt measures to stop the spread of novel coronavirus to the countrys vulnerable indigenous communities.
A majority of the justices voted to give the government 30 days to draw up a plan to reduce the threat to indigenous people from COVID-19, which could wipe out some tribes.
Measures should include sanitary barriers to stop outsiders entering protected tribal lands and the isolation of invaders, but the court stopped short of ordering the immediate expulsion of illegal loggers and miners that indigenous leaders say are spreading the virus.
The action was sought by Brazils main indigenous umbrella organization APIB, backed by six opposition political parties that have criticized Bolsonaro for denying the gravity of the second worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States.
According to APIB, 631 indigenous people have died from COVID-19 and 22,325 cases have been confirmed among Brazils 850,000 indigenous people. Half of Brazils 300 indigenous tribes have confirmed infections.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-indigenous/brazils-court-rules-government-must-protect-tribes-from-coronavirus-idUSKCN251361