Brazil in the corona chaos: Second health minister in crisis throws down - because of Bolsonaro

Is Brazil facing the corona collapse? President Jair Bolsonaro ready to wear two ministers of health in crisis.

• Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro still doesn't think much of measures against the coronavirus * .
• The virus is spreading rapidly in the largest country in South America - over 212,198  people are already infected.
• 14,267 people have already died as a result of the pandemic (as of May 15, 10 p.m.). It will probably not stop there.
• Brazil's new health minister resigned after less than a month - because of Bolsonaro .

Update of May 15, 2020:  Brazil is deeply in the corona crisis with more than 212,000 infections and 14,267 deaths , but looking into the future does not promise anything positive. The ultra-right president Jair Bolsonaro managed to wear out the second health minister during the crisis. Nelson Pond came on Friday after less than a month from his post back . 

Corona in Brazil: because of Bolsonaro - second crisis health minister throws in the towel

Pond predecessor Luiz Henrique Mandetta mid-April after a disagreement about the Corona course released . One day after discharge, oncologist Nelson Teich was introduced. But after a short time there were already differences between him and Bolsonaro . The health ministry stated that the reason for the resignation was that the two politicians had disagreed "with regard to certain procedures".

Bolsonaro declared gyms and beauty salons to be vital areas that could open during the crisis last week without consulting the Ministry of Health . Statements by the controversial president about the use of the malaria drug Cloroquin against the coronavirus are said to have caused the barrel to overflow.

Contradicting scientific evidence, Bolsonaro is pressuring his new Minister of Health Nelson Teich to endorse the use of chloroquine in the combat against COVID-19. Teich, an oncologist, said he refuses to comply. Less than a month after he took office, he may be on his way out

The resignation of the new minister sparked protests in some cities , people pounding their pots on windows and balconies and shouting "Get out, Bolsonaro!". The president is under pressure due to the fatal number of infections, but he still does not believe in curfews and other restrictions due to the corona pandemic. Brazilian experts point out that test capacities in the largest country in Latin America are extremely limited. The unreported number of infections is estimated to be 15 times  higher.

Corona in Brazil: system in the Latin American country collapses

Rio de Janeiro - The coronavirus * has also arrived in Brazil for a little more than two months and has determined everyday life there since then. On February 26, one person tested positive for the pathogen Sars-CoV-2 for the first time , since then there have been new numbers of horrors every day. 

Clinics and cemeteries are reaching their limits not only because of the increasing number of infections , but also because of mismanagement. The system in Brazil is currently collapsing - also because President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the problem in recent weeks  .

Corona in Brazil: Public protests are increasing - Violent accusations against WHO

The head of state does not seem to think much of measures to contain the virus and calls for a return to normal. There was a bang in mid-April when Bolsonaro released his health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta after a dispute over how to deal with the pandemic. Mandetta had called for a stricter line of protection against infection *. The dismissal caused protests in parts of the population , and resentment against the president is growing. 

President Bolsonaro was asked about the new record corona deaths in Brazil today. His answer: "Yes and? I'm sorry. But what should I do? I'm Messiah (his middle name), but do no miracles." https://t.co/uwMxT7Ewsa

But Bolsonaro just seems to want to continue swimming against the tide and questioned the World Health Organization (WHO) with violent and provocative statements. According to Bolsonaro, WHO encouraged young children to homosexuality and masturbation , he wrote on Facebook at the end of April . However, the post was later removed, but the statements had already been made. "This is the World Health Organization, and I believe some people will follow its recommendations for the coronavirus *," said the president. Without providing any evidence to support his claims, Bolsonaro claimed  the organization recommends “early childhood masturbation” and “same-sex relationships”.

Brazil's head of state attacks @WHO amid the #Corona crisis. #Bolsonaro claims the World Health Organization encourages young children to homosexuality and masturbation. https://t.co/8dfoUIQubJ

Corona in Brazil: Bolsonaro attacks WHO with questionable means - and rejects distance

Bolsonaro probably used the basis for the statements in 2010, the framework concept "Standards for Sexual Education in Europe", which was published jointly by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) Sex education of children and adolescents there. The statements are related to Bolsonaro's position in the corona crisis *, he rejects the guidelines recommended by the WHO for social distancing .

The governors, however, determine the exit restrictions. In Rio de Janeiro, for example, there is a restriction until May 11, in which schools , universities and cultural centers remain closed.

Corona in Brazil: Ninth most affected country

Since Monday, residents of the largest Latin American country should be even more aware that strict measures are needed. Because the number of infections broke a worrying mark and is now over 100,000 . The Ministry of Health in Brasilia stated this for the first time, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the number of people who tested positive was  116,299 (as of May 6, 3:30 p.m.). This puts Brazil in ninth place in a global comparison of absolute numbers, making it one of the most severely affected countries in the world by the virus.

However, the unreported number of infected people is likely to be much higher, as results from the laboratories are pending and the test capacities are extremely limited. As of May 6, 7966 deaths related to the novel virus * have been confirmed. 

Corona in Brazil: Rio de Janeiro and the Church send an important signal

In Rio de Janeiro  , a mask requirement applies in public spaces * , which applies particularly to shops and public transport, but only a few people with masks can be seen on the streets. Rio's Mayor Marcelo Crivella and Governor of the State Wilson Witzel are committed to implementing the restrictions. Bolsonaro , who refused to give the results of his corona test, shows himself in public without a mask almost every day and intensifies the protest of the action critics in Brazil .

The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro flies the flag - few Brazilians wear face masks

© AFP / MAURO PIMENTEL

The 710 meter high Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, which attracts two million visitors every year due to its symbolic character, now looks down on the city with a face mask. The statue is the property of the Catholic Church.

Warning from the highest place: The Christ statue above Rio de Janeiro is illuminated with a mouthguard to remind people to protect themselves in the Corona crisis. https://t.co/spUOgTHTyr pic.twitter.com/uq7EGFDBly

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Eraldo Peres