Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What COVID-19 outbreaks in Brazil and US have in common
The world’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks are in the U.S., with 140,000 deaths, and Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive again for the virus.
By Madeleine Brand • • 10m ListenThe COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil is the second worst in the world, behind the U.S.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19 for the third consecutive time. It’s been roughly two weeks since the politician first contracted the virus.
“He said from the very beginning that it’s just a little flu. If he got it, he wouldn’t show any symptoms,” says Brazil-based journalist Michael Fox, who has been covering this for PRI’s The World.
Even with a positive test, Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the impacts of coronavirus on Brazilians and touted the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug which the World Health Organization has advised not to give to COVID-19 patients.
“It’s almost a mockery of science and medicine and what should be the defense against this virus,” says Fox.
Meanwhile, Brazil is in crisis trying to respond to the exponential increase in cases. They’ve had more than 2 million positive test results and more than 80,000 deaths.
“There’s been more than 1000 deaths a day across Brazil for weeks at this point,” says Fox.
