This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On July 19, 2020, a Brazilian YouTuber spoke out against President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, calling him the 'worst Covid president in the world.'
Bolsonaro, a military man, has been accused of downplaying the severity of the pandemic, despite Brazil being the fastest-rising Covid country in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has considered Brazil the new epicenter of the pandemic.
Unlike US President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for his handling of the crisis, Bolsonaro has shown no sign of taking the pandemic seriously. He has continued to attend public events, including demonstrations and military ceremonies, despite the risks of transmission.
Bolsonaro has also been accused of promoting unproven treatments for Covid-19, including hydroxychloroquine. He has asked health authorities to include the medication as a prescribed use case, despite a lack of evidence of its effectiveness.
The Brazilian president has also been accused of retaliating against public authorities who promote safety measures. He has fired health ministers who have advocated for quarantine and has replaced them with military officials.
Bolsonaro's actions have been widely criticized, with many accusing him of inciting violence. In April, he held a cabinet meeting in which he said that the country's gun laws should be relaxed, and he has since eliminated all gun-tracing regulations.
As the pandemic worsened, Bolsonaro began mocking the deceased and their families. When Brazil reached 2,500 dead, he made a joke about it, and when the death toll reached 60,000, he said nothing.
Trump has called Bolsonaro a 'good friend,' which has helped to legitimize the Brazilian president's popularity. However, many Brazilians are calling for change, and the country's citizens are urging Americans to vote out Trump in the November elections.
