Omicron wave drives Brazil health worker shortage

Health centers in Brazil are facing major staff shortages amid the latest wave of coronavirus cases driven by the highly contagious omicron variant. The municipality's Health Secretary said health workers were being moved between hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of the absences.

But hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have not yet become a problem as in previous waves with none of the city's 30 intensive care beds occupied by coronavirus patients. The Rio de Janeiro state government announced elective surgeries will be cancelled for the next 30 days from Monday across its 92 municipalities due to the lack of health workers.