Despite the efforts of government aides and parliamentarians, President Jair Bolsonaro (no party) continues to push measures that oppose health recommendations to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Without a mask, he said again that it is no use staying at home. Minutes earlier, alongside the congressional leader, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and the Senate leader, Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG), the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, discouraged large gatherings.
Queiroga participated in a joint demonstration after the committee's first meeting to deal with the crisis of the novel coronavirus. Bolsonaro did not participate in this first meeting—the president's statement was made at an event to publicize the new round of emergency aid.
The minister appealed for the use of masks and social distance during the Easter holiday, despite saying against "extreme" measures, a veiled reference to the lockdown.
A few minutes later, in the next room, on the second floor of the Planalto Palace, Bolsonaro announced the new round of emergency aid's calendar.
Without a mask, he made a statement against restrictive measures. "We had, and we have two enemies, the virus and unemployment. It is a reality. It is not by staying at home that we are going to solve this problem," said the president.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon