COVID-19: Brazil’s Bolsonaro is putting ‘lives in danger’ | UpFront (Special Interview)

With some 7,000 cases and 200 deaths, Brazil has more coronavirus infections than any other country in Latin America. The country’s health minister warns the healthcare system could be overwhelmed by the end of April.

Yet, President Jair Bolsonaro has been downplaying the pandemic. He has referred to the virus as a “little flu” and “hysteria” and even visited a busy market outside the country’s capital, Brasília, in a bid to get people back to work.

Brazilian Congresswoman Tabata Amaral accused Bolsonaro of lying and using social media to spread fake news.

“By doing those things, and by telling people to go to their streets, and actually going himself to greet the crowds, which he did last weekend, he’s putting lives in danger,” Amaral said.

“I’m very ashamed by all of the things he is doing, especially in moments of crisis, we need a leader who tells people everything will be all right,” she added.

In March, Bolsonaro visited the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump. When he returned to Brazil, more than 20 members of his delegation tested positive for the virus. Bolsonaro says he tested negative for COVID-19, but speculation continues in Brazil that he may have the virus.

“He is not someone known for telling the truth, and he hasn’t been, he hasn’t shown his test … But the bigger point is that he is being extremely irresponsible,” Amaral said.

A movement is growing inside Brazil calling for Bolsonaro’s impeachment, but Amaral stopped short of supporting it at this time.

“I do think he should be held accountable for everything he’s doing – but after the crisis. I don’t think my country can handle another crisis on top of coronavirus right now,” Amaral said.

President Trump has employed rhetoric similar to the claims made by the Brazilian president. Like Bolsonaro, Trump has dismissed fears about the virus, saying it would “go away” and describing it as a political “hoax”.

But Amaral says while Bolsonaro is a fan of Trump, the two leaders’ response to the virus differs.

“President Trump is more pragmatic. When he saw all of the people who were dying in the US, when he saw all of what that meant to his popularity, to the economy, he changed his attitude, and Bolsonaro is not changing the attitude,” Amaral said.

In this week’s Special Interview, we discuss Jair Bolsonaro’s defiance in the face of the coronavirus with Brazilian Congresswoman Tabata Amaral.


In This Story: Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in both South America and Latin America.

Its capital is Brasília, and its most populous city is São Paulo. The federation is composed of the union of the 26 states and the Federal District. It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas, as well as the most populous Roman Catholic-majority country.

Its Amazon basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to diverse wildlife, a variety of ecological systems, and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats. Brazil is classified as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank and a newly industrialized country.

2 Recent Items: Brazil

Chinese fm wang yi meets with celso amorim, advisor to brazilian president 1

Chinese FM Wang Yi meets with Celso Amorim, advisor to Brazilian president

Call from the Amazon: World needs to rethink the concept of ‘economy’

In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

In This Story: Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was the 45th President of the United States. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality. Trump was born and raised in Queens, a borough of New York City, and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School.

5 Recent Items: Donald Trump

‘DISRESPECTFUL’: Tim Scott takes heat for endorsing Trump

Are those most opposed to Trump aiding his election?

Trump claims he prevented ‘nuclear holocaust’ in released deposition tapes

Donald Trump endorsed by Tim Scott amid speculation he could be election running mate

Is Tim Scott in the running to be Trump’s VP pick?

In This Story: United States

The United States is a country also known as the United States of America, USA, US or just America. There are fifty states in the union, which is a federal republic ruled by a representative democracy. Nearly ten million square kilometres are inhabited by over 300 million people. The majority of Americans speak English.

4 Recent Items: United States

Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon

US march for life: Abortion rights likely issue in Nov election

US mulls seizing $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine | DW News

North Korea and the new Cold War | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.