Bolsonaro says he ‘wouldn’t feel anything’ if infected with Covid-19 and attacks state lockdowns – The Guardian

Brazils far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has claimed he wouldnt feel anything if infected with coronavirus and rubbished efforts to contain the illness with large-scale quarantines as his countrys two biggest cities went into shutdown in a desperate bid to save lives.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday night, Bolsonaro slammed what he branded the economically damaging scorched earth tactics being used to slow the advance of an illness that has now claimed about 15,000 lives around the world.

The virus has arrived and we are fighting it and soon it will pass, claimed Bolsonaro, who is facing a growing backlash in Brazil for repeatedly dismissing coronavirus as a media fantasy and trick.

Bolsonaros incendiary remarks came as both Rio de Janeiro and So Paulo were placed under partial lockdown by municipal and state authorities who fear an explosion of cases in the coming days.

Joo Doria, the governor of So Paulo, Brazils most economically important and populous state, has declared a 15-day quarantine period affecting about 46 million of Brazils 210 million citizens.

Meanwhile Rios mayor, Marcello Crivella, has ordered an indefinite shutdown of that citys commerce and schools with Rios state governor, Wilson Witzel, also introducing drastic measures to counter coronavirus.

But in his five-minute address which sparked loud protests in both Rio and So Paulo - Bolsonaro railed against such steps and attacked the media for spreading a feeling of dread among the population by reporting on the death toll in Italy.

Our lives have to go on. Jobs must be kept we must, yes, get back to normal, Bolsonaro said as his governments health officials announced that the number of deaths in Brazil had risen to 46 with more than 2,200 cases.

A small number of state and municipal authorities must abandon their scorched-earth ideas: the banning of public transport, the closing of commerce and mass confinement, Bolsonaro said.

What is happening around the world has shown that the at-risk group are those over 60 years old. So why close schools? Ninety per cent of us will show no sign [of infection] if we are infected.

There was growing speculation on Tuesday that Bolsonaro himself may have been infected with coronavirus amid reports that a military hospital where Brazils president had been tested had withheld two names from a list of positive cases for reasons of secrecy.

Those reports had set off rumours that Bolsonaro would use his address to confirm a positive diagnosis. Instead he told citizens: In my particular case, because of my background as an athlete, I wouldnt need to worry if I was infected by the virus. I wouldnt feel anything or at the very worst it would be like a little flu or a bit of a cold.

The address went down badly with many Bolsonaro critics who believe his response to coronavirus will be the end of his political career.

The first political suicide broadcast live on national radio and television, tweeted Ricardo Noblat, a prominent Brazilian journalist.

Brian Winter, the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, tweeted: Pray for Brazil.

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Bolsonaro says he 'wouldn't feel anything' if infected with Covid-19 and attacks state lockdowns - The Guardian