After promising to declare the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, a task that is only up to the World Health Organization, Minister of Health Marcelo Queiroga changed his message and now is targeting masks and a repeal of pandemic rules. The initial idea was to reinforce that the health crisis is over, but now Queiroga plans to launch a landmark revocation action of secondary rules.
An example is the restriction on the export of medicines, oxygen and other health items. The minister wants to recommend the end of the use of regulators, a measure already adopted by some ministers. A wing of the ministry also defends this move and published a document guiding the waiver of protection in some cases. On the other hand some of Queiroga's assistants fear that the measure will become judicialized.
Last week, Bolsonaro reinforced an idea. "From the beginning of next month, with the decision of the Minister of Health to put an end to the pandemic, we must return to normality in Brazil." Government technicians, however, warned Queiroga that the Minister of Health cannot just press a button capable of making this change. He then changed his message and began to recognize that he will not end the pandemic in Brazil, as he had promised.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon