President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party) said on Thursday (26) that wearing masks is "the last taboo to fall" concerning measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Before talking about the use of masks, the president mentioned a study on hydroxychloroquine that said the drug would not cause arrhythmia. Bolsonaro insists on recommending the drug to fight Covid-19 despite the lack of scientific proof.
However, the cited text contradicts research and the position of experts, who warn of the risks of administering the drug, including the possibility of the appearance of heart problems.
The president talked about the research when questioning studies on the drug's side effects. Next, Bolsonaro questioned the effectiveness of using masks to contain the coronavirus.
"The question of the mask, there will still be a serious study talking about the effectiveness of the mask ... it is the last taboo to fall," he said.
The president said this during live broadcast on social networks. Several scientific studies, however, prove the effectiveness of using a mask to reduce contagion.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon