At a Pro-Chloroquine Event, Bolsonaro Says Journalists More Likely to Die from Coronavirus

President led 'Brazil beating Covid' event, despite 114,000 deaths in Brazil so far

Brasília

With more than 114 thousand deaths caused by the novel coronavirus, President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party) on Monday said Brazil is "winning Covid-19" and defended treatment with hydroxychloroquine. This medication has not been proven effective for the disease in recent studies and poses a risk of side effects.

He again criticized the press and said that journalists, if infected with the coronavirus, have a better chance of dying for being a "big punk".

President Jair Bolsonaro. (Foto: Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress, PODER) - Folhapress

In March Bolsonaro said he would feel only a "little flu" if infected by Covid. Then Bolsonaro referred to journalists with the expression "big punk".

"The press people go to debauchery [in the phrase from the athlete's history]. But when [Covid] takes a big punk from you, the chance of surviving is less," he said.

It is the second time in a day that Bolsonaro has disrespected journalists. On Sunday (23), when asked about deposits of R$ 89,000 made by former adviser Fabrício Queiroz in the account of the first lady, Bolsonaro said he wanted to fill the reporter's face with a beating.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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