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Brazil

Bolsonaro fires Brazil’s health minister

cde.news desk · 1 min read
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The President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro (L), takes part in the public address in which he announced the new Minister of Health, Nelson Teich (R), in Brasilia, Brazil, 16 April 2020. Bolsonaro announced on 16 April oncologist Nelson Teich as the new Health minister after dismissing the doctor Luiz Henrique Mandetta, defender of social isolation against COVID-19, that the president opposes. 'It was a consensual divorce' Bolsonaro said. EPA-EFE/Joédson Alves

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fired his health minister on Thursday after clashing with him over how to fight the new coronavirus, and again called for states to end stay-at-home orders that he said were hurting the economy.

Few global leaders have done more than Bolsonaro to play down the pandemic, which has killed nearly 2,000 Brazilians. He has called the virus “a little flu” and criticized state governors for imposing restrictions supported by health experts and the popular outgoing minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta.

Bolsonaro announces new Health Minister in the midst of the pandemic
Outgoing Brazilian Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta speaks during a press conference at Presidential Palace of Planalto in Brasilia, Brazil. EPA-EFE/Joédson Alves

In televised remarks met with pot-banging protests in several major cities, Bolsonaro said Mandetta did not fully appreciate the need to protect jobs and he called again for a resumption of business in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy.

Medical experts agree that a peak in Brazil is still weeks away and it is too early to end social distancing.

“Do not think we are past a peak in growth of the virus. The health system is still not prepared for an acceleration,” Mandetta warned in his parting comments at the ministry.

Read more via Reuters

Filed under BrazilCoronavirusSouth America
Topics BrazilCoronavirus

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