The President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, denounced, Tuesday, March 24, the containment measures ordered against the coronavirus by different states and municipalities of his country, comparing them to a policy of " burnt earth " which threatens to ruin the first economy in Latin America, in a speech broadcast on radio and television. "We must maintain jobs and preserve the supply of families", he added.
Bolsonaro downplayed the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has already killed more than 18,000 people worldwide and forced a third of humanity to adhere to strict containment measures.
"Hysteria"
"The risk group is that of people over 60. So why close the schools? ", asked Mr. Bolsonaro. Far-right president accused media of spreading "Hysteria" faced the pandemic and said Brazil was safe, he said, thanks to its warm climate and predominantly young population. Mr. Bolsonaro also clarified:
“The virus has arrived in Brazil, we are fighting it and it will be over soon. Our life must go on. Jobs must be maintained. Families must continue to live. Yes, we have to get back to normal. "
In response to the pandemic, several states and cities in Brazil have adopted measures to close businesses and public services and to contain the population, notably the state of Sao Paulo, the richest in Brazil. On Tuesday, Brazil recorded 2,201 cases of Covid-19 and 46 deaths.
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