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Backlash grows against Brazil's Bolsonaro even as he moderates tone on pandemic
'We have two enemies: the virus and the president,' infectious disease expert says
Steven D'Souza · CBC News · Posted: Apr 04, 2020 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 7 hours ago
Public health officials in Brazil say one of their biggest challenges in containing the spread of the virus is countering
the misinformation coming from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. (Andressa Anholete/Getty Images)
Health officials bracing for the worst and a president sending mixed messages. Sounds like the situation in the United States, but it's what's happening in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro has found himself increasingly isolated from the rest of his government in the battle against the spread of the coronavirus.
From belittling the virus as "a little flu" to making public appearances in crowded settings, Bolsonaro has downplayed the risks of the virus, while actively encouraging BrazIlians to get back to work — a position that has put him at odds with Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta other members of his cabinet, state governors and a growing segment of Brazilians.
While Mandetta has called for physical distancing, Bolsonaro has focused on the economic impacts of virus mitigation measures while also questioning the science. This week Facebook and Instagram removed posts from Bolsonaro on grounds that the content was harmful, after he questioned social distancing measures and promoted an unproven treatment for the coronavirus.
"The messages are not clear if you have two important members of the same government saying different things," said Luis Eugenio de Souza, of the Institute of Public Health of the Federal University of Bahia.
More:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/backlash-grows-against-brazil-s-bolsonaro-even-as-he-moderates-tone-on-pandemic-1.5521158?cmp=rss
It just occurred to me that wearing a mask may seem threatening to sociopaths because they feel it detracts from their "tough guy" images. I notice Bolsonaro is posturing to frame the photo to make it seem he's just trying the mask for a moment, but wouldn't wear it.
