Brazilian Supreme Court says country can host Copa America despite COVID

Rio, Brazil: The Brazilian Supreme Court has stated that the country can host Copa America, notwithstanding the massive wave of coronavirus pandemic, which will pave the way for the difficult soccer tournament in three days.

In an extraordinary virtual hearing held on Thursday, a majority of the Supreme Court's 11 judges ruled against the plaintiffs, who require the South American championship poses an unacceptable health risk.

However, several judges ordered the government to take additional security measures.

"It is up to (Heads of State and Mayors) to draw up the appropriate health protocols and ensure that they are respected to avoid a 'Copavirus', with new infections and the appearance of new variants," Judge Carmen Lucia said in her ruling.

The three cases before the court were perhaps the last - lead of organizers, who are apparently determined to make this edition of the world's oldest international soccer tournament, despite the obstacles.

The Copa America has already been delayed by a year due to the pandemic when the original co-host Colombia and Argentina collapsed on the spur of the moment - the former due to violent anti-government protests, the latter due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

With the clock ticking after Sunday's opening match, Brazil stepped in as emergency hosts for the 10-nation tournament last week.

But the decision is hugely controversial: Brazil is also working on COVID-19, which killed nearly 480,000 people in the country, the second to the United States.

COVID Wave

Judge President Jair Bolsonaro, who regularly challenged expert advice on combating the pandemic, gave his blessing to hosting the tournament.

He welcomed the court's decision and predicted that Brazil would "slaughter" Venezuela in the opening match.

But epidemiologists warn Brazil currently has a net increase in cases and say hosting a major international sporting event could exacerbate the health crisis.

"It is impossible to describe the madness of trying to hold an event of this magnitude here now," Jose David Urbaez, a specialist in infectious diseases, told the AFP news agency.

The high court requests were submitted by the national trade union for metalworkers, the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and the Workers' Party (PT) of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro's likely opponent in next year's presidential election.

They argued that the tournament could exacerbate the health crisis and that it would violate the fundamental rights to life and health.

Bolsonaro and the South American football confederation CONMEBOL maintain that the tournament will be safe.

Brazilian officials demand that matches be held without supporters, including the July 10 final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Teams will undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing every 48 hours. Their movements will be restricted, and they will travel on charter flights to matches in the four host cities.

However, the Ministry of Health on Monday backed down from plans to require all players, coaches, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.