Brazil's Bolsonaro slams quarantine, says jobs being lost
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said there can be no more quarantine measures imposed on the country than those already in place to combat coronavirus because jobs are being destroyed and the poor are suffering disproportionately, Reuters reports.
Speaking to Rede TV on Monday, Bolsonaro criticized self-isolation and other measures imposed by local authorities to limit the spread of the virus, a view that again appeared to put him at odds with Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mendetta.
Mendetta on Monday urged Brazilians to maintain maximum social distancing to ease the strain on the fragile health system and said that 200 million personal protective equipment items would be arriving from China next month.
“You can’t impose any more quarantine than there already is,” Bolsonaro said, adding that the question people ask him most is when can they return to work.
Brazil’s Senate passed a bill on Monday night guaranteeing some of the country’s poorest citizens income of 600 reais (US$117) a month for three months, a package that could cost almost 50 billion reais.
According to Bolsonaro, all measures to combat the crisis could cost 800 billion reais, and the economy, which is expected to contract this year, could rebound and be back on track within a year.
Earlier on Monday, Bolsonaro had stepped up his stand-off with state governments, branding governors in the hardest-hit states “job-killers” and suggesting that democracy could be at risk if the coronavirus crisis leads to social chaos.
“When the situation is heading toward chaos, with mass unemployment and hunger, it’s fertile ground for some to exploit, seeking a way to reach power and never leave it,” Bolsonaro told reporters outside the presidential palace.
Bolsonaro last week warned that Brazil could break with “democratic normalcy”, citing the risk of rioting and suggesting “the left” could capitalize on any chaos, without elaborating.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far resulted in 4,579 confirmed cases and 159 deaths in Brazil.
-- Contact us at [email protected]
RC/CG
-
Specialized data tools boost infrastructure projects efficiency Dr. Winnie Tang
Infrastructure investment will drive Hong Kong’s economic recovery, the projects will soar to HK$300 billion per year in the next few years,. However, a study by Oxford Global Projects found that
-
Has Hong Kong emigration to UK peaked? Mark O'Neill
Mary Chan described how buying a house in the UK had driven her to distraction. “The agent did not turn up for our appointment. The solicitor replied late and incompletely to my questions.” She twice
-
Be swift and precise to attract businesses and investments Kenny Shui, Arthur Tsang
The Northern Metropolis vision was promulgated in the 2021 Policy Address, and the project entails huge investments. In addition to the various infrastructure investments revealed by the Government
-
Australia fights hard to attract Hong Kong talent Mark O'Neill
Since the passage of the National Security Law in 2020, Australia has been competing hard with Britain, Canada, New Zealand and other countries to attract talented people from Hong Kong. In the 2021
-
Why travelers to Hong Kong cannot dine out for Christmas? Ben Kwok
Say you invite someone to your home for a Christmas meal but ask them not to eat inside, would they come? Hong Kong is stuck in this awkward situation. Under the current “0+3” rule, for the first
