Jair Bolsonaro rules out imposing shutdown after new record of daily deaths in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, ruled out imposing a shutdown in the country after health authorities confirmed on Tuesday a record number of deaths from Covid-19 in one day, almost 4,200.

“There will be no closure,” Bolsonaro declared during a visit to the city of Chapecó, in the state of Santa Catarina.

Moreover, he has once again defended what he called the “early treatment” of the disease, with the use of drugs with no proven efficacy against the disease and which, according to the Brazilian Medical Association, should be banned to treat Covid-19.

Bolsonaro went to the locality to close down a semi-intensive care unit for patients with Covid-19. According to information gathered by mediagroup G1, the last patient in the facility was transferred on Saturday and the structure, with space for 75 people, has been closed.

The Brazilian president praised the management of the pandemic in the city of Chapecó. “An example to follow,” he said, stressing that it serves “to show all of Brazil that the virus is serious, but its effects can be combated.”

Despite this statement, Chapecó has more deaths from Covid-19 than the national and state average. The mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants is 240.6, while in Brazil it is 160.3. In Santa Catarina, according to Ministry of Health data updated Wednesday, the rate stands at 161.2.

With intense pressure on its health system, the city of 224,000 inhabitants suspended non-essential activities for 14 days at the end of February. Some services, such as restaurants and markets, which were able to remain open, reduced their opening hours and reduced the maximum capacity of people.

In recent weeks, the city had a decrease in the number of active coronavirus cases and patients with the disease waiting to be admitted to intensive care units. Local authorities attribute this to an increase in diagnostic capacity, rapid treatment of patients, restrictive measures and supervision of the same.

Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the pandemic, has repeatedly refused to impose restrictions in Brazil to contain Covid-19. Brazil is the second-most disease-stricken country in the world, with more than 13.1 million infected and nearly 337,000 deaths from the disease.