Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has said he tested positive for Covid-19. He took Covid-19 test on Monday, after developing symptoms, including fever.
Brazil president has been under criticism for downplaying the effect of Covid-19. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Brazil have been increasing at an alarming rate.
Two health minister were fired during the pandemic in Brazil following disagreement with the President on his handling of pandemic in the country.
He has argued that the solution to control the spread of Covid-19 will not be worse than the disease. He does not encourage social distancing as he has been holding gatherings in recent times.
The president said on 11 March, “From what I have seen until now, there are other kinds of flu which have killed more people than Coronavirus”
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“After being stabbed, I’m not going to be brought down by a little flu” he said on 20 March
On 23 June a judge in Brazil ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a protective mask when he is in public spaces in the capital, Brasilia, and the surrounding federal district.
He urged regional governors to ease lockdowns, saying that it hurts the economy, On Monday, Jair Bolsonaro vetoed the use of masks in shops, churches and schools.
Bolsonaro in April said that even if he were to be infected with the virus, he would “not have to worry as I wouldn’t feel anything, at most it would be like a little flue or a little cold”.
In early June United States sent 2 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine and 1,000 ventilators to Brazil.
Brazil has the second largest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths in the world after the U.S. The country has recorded a total of 1,623,284 cases of Covid-19 with 65,487 deaths and 1,062,542 recoveries according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Written by;
Ifunanya Ikueze