On Tuesday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, which he has previously referred to as a “little flu”. He underwent a test on Monday after reporting ‘Covid-like’ symptoms and feeling sick on Sunday. He has since said that his fever has subsided and that he is feeling “very well” and “normal”.
Bolsonaro is confident of a quick recovery from the disease, saying that he “trusts” in the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an unproven anti-malarial drug. In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended clinical trials for HCQ as a potential treatment for COVID-19, citing safety reasons. A study published in The Lancet, a medical journal, said that while it is generally effective for autoimmune diseases and malaria, there is no conclusive evidence of its benefit in treating COVID-19, and that it could increase the risk of severely ill patients dying from the disease. Likewise, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine, saying that they are “unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19” and that the known potential benefits of the drugs “no longer outweigh the known and potential risks for the authorized use”.
In the past, Bolsonaro has called the coronavirus a “little flu”, and lambasted the Brazilian media for creating ‘hysteria’ and blowing the threat out of proportion, saying that “the people will soon know they have been tricked by those governors and the mainstream media.” He boldly claimed, “Other viruses have killed many more than this one, and there wasn't all this commotion.”
When governors and mayors and governors went against his wishes and implemented lockdowns, he called the “job killers” and “criminals”. He was firmly against quarantine measures, in diametric opposition to his health advisers. Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta was sacked after disagreeing with the president over the need for social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Bolsonaro said, “Mandetta’s vision was that of health, of life. Mine is more than life, it includes the economy and jobs.” Less than a month after Mandetta was fired, his successor, Nelson Teich, resigned from his post, citing an “incompatibility” with Bolsonaro’s approach to combatting the coronavirus outbreak that has made Brazil a new epicenter for the virus.
His flippant disregard for both the virus and Brazilian citizens was most apparent when he said “So what?” after a reporter presented him with statistics about the soaring number of coronavirus deaths.
Aside from his prioritization of economic concerns over medical needs, he has also openly flouted medical advice. For example, in March, he refused his medical team’s advice to self-isolate after several members of his delegation to Florida, who met with Trump, tested positive for the coronavirus. Rather, he was seen at a rally, “shaking hands, bumping fists, and slapping […] backs”. In fact, he has even led multiple anti-lockdown protests and demonstrations outside the presidential palace.
In recent weeks, the Federal court in Brasilia ruled that Bolsonaro must wear a face mask when he is outdoors in the capital city after being seen repeatedly flouting local guidelines. In addition, just last Friday, Bolsonaro severely watered down a bill on coronavirus measures by vetoing multiple articles, such as mandating employers to provide face masks for staff and ordering public authorities to provide masks for “economically vulnerable people”. He also vetoed articles requiring masks in prisons and one more which mandates that businesses must provide guidelines on how to wear masks properly to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
On the weekend, Bolsonaro was seen meeting with US Ambassador Todd Chapman to celebrate the US’ independence day on July 4. Once again, he was seen without a mask. Also present were five ministers and Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s indifference for potentially infecting people is hardly surprising given that he said after contracting the virus: “I thought I had it before, given my very dynamic activity. I'm president and on the combat lines. I like to be in the middle of the people.”
Brazil has now had over 1.67 million coronavirus cases, with over 600,000 active cases, and close to 67,000 deaths. It now has close to 1 million cases, and over 45,000 deaths. Experts fear that the true numbers could be between twelve and fifteen times higher due to a lack of testing.
Bolsonaro is under investigation by the Supreme Court for political interference in the police force. Brazil is slowly crumbling under the simultaneous pressure of Bolsonaro’s undemocratic governance and his severely lacking response to the coronavirus pandemic. One hopes that Bolsonaro contracting the virus himself may stir a more effective response, but perhaps it will only cause him to double down and once again claim that the coronavirus is just a “little cold” once or if he recovers.
Brazil Coverage:
- Bolsonaro Mimics Trump, Calls Coronavirus Anxiety 'Hysteria', Then Demands Emergency Funds
- Brazilian Mayors and Governors Defy President, Implement COVID-19 Lockdowns
- Bolsonaro Continues Offensive Against Quarantines, Warns Against Additional Measures
- Brazil’s Health Minister Clings Onto Job Despite Disagreeing With President Bolsonaro
- Brazilian Supreme Court Orders Investigation Into Political Interference by Bolsonaro
- Brazilian President Leads Yet Another Anti-Lockdown Protest
- Brazil Emerges as New Epicenter for COVID-19
- Brazilian Health Minister Resigns Less Than One Month After Predecessor Was Sacked
- Brazilian President Urges Supreme Court to End Political Interference Investigation
- Bolsonaro Decries Supreme Court Investigation Into Him, Compares It to Hitler’s Germany
- Bolsonaro Threatens to Withdraw From WHO, Government Stops Publishing COVID-19 Data
- Bolsonaro Once Again Issues Thinly Veiled Military Threat to Supreme Court