RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, who was diagnosed positive for Covid-19 on Friday, September 24, compared Brazil to the Taliban, a terrorist organization that took over Afghanistan.
The statement was made during a live stream on social media, in which the deputy lamented the fact that he is not allowed to promote drugs with no scientifically proven effectiveness against the novel coronavirus.
In the video, he was visibly tired, with bloodshot eyes and flu-like symptoms, such as coughing. According to the deputy, he did not have a fever.
Since the start of the pandemic, President Jair Bolsonaro has been advocating “early treatment.” The argument, which has been rejected by the World Health Organization (WHO) and considered ineffective, was advocated by the Chief Executive before world leaders attending the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).
“I am treating myself. You should know with what. Some things are incredible, but we can’t talk about them. It is almost a Taliban regime, because if you say some things, for instance, what you are taking [against Covid], this channel is likely to be taken down,” Eduardo said.
The deputy was part of the presidential delegation that traveled to the United States last week for the UN General Assembly.
During the trip, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga also tested positive for Covid. Eduardo is the third person to be infected by the novel coronavirus among the president’s coterie. The first occurrence was the infection of a diplomat who prepared the Brazilian trip to the UN.
The federal deputy was administered the first dose of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine on August 26. The immunizer was given by the Minister of Health.