RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Asked about measures to be taken in Brazil to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus strain in the country, President Jair Bolsonaro said he does not have the power to decide and said he discussed a potential mandatory quarantine for Argentines who travel to Brazil by plane.
“We must be prepared. Brazil cannot stand a new lockdown. There is no point in panicking. I spoke with Admiral Barra (Torres) at ANVISA, I spoke with Ciro (Nogueira), of the Chief of Staff, about Argentina,” he said.
“Anyone traveling from Argentina by car to Brazil, no problem, anyone coming by plane must be quarantined for 4 days. I will not make a decision concerning Carnaval. I don’t have the control of decisions in the pandemic. I did my part and I continue to do so. The decision was taken by the Federal Supreme Court for governors and mayors,” Bolsonaro said to the press during a military event in Rio de Janeiro on Friday afternoon.
The President did not clarify if he supports or opposes a potential quarantine for Argentines.
Bolsonaro again advocated the proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) that postpones Court-ordered federal debt, now under debate in the Senate. “We will pay debts of up to R$600,000 (US$107,000), no one who for 20, 30, 40 years has money to receive, will be without it. Anyone who has more than R$600,000 to receive, that only God knows how this debt exists, we will pay it in installments,” he stated.
Bolsonaro was in Rio on Friday afternoon to attend the celebration ceremony of the 76th anniversary of the Parachute Infantry Brigade, in Vila Militar (north zone of Rio) and to honor 4 classes completing 25 and 50 years after graduation. During his military career, since 1982 and for 4 years, Bolsonaro served in this Brigade.