Brazil’s Congress Decrees Three-day Mourning for Coronavirus Death Toll

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On the same day that President Jair Bolsonaro scheduled a barbecue at the Alvorada Palace, the National Congress decreed three-day mourning. On Saturday, May 9th, the National Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Congress, where a pro-Bolsonaro rally took place.

According to the decree signed by the presidents of the Senate and Congress, Davi Alcolumbre, and of the Chamber, Rodrigo Maia, “any celebrations, commemorations or festivities in the context of the National Congress decree are forbidden while the mourning period is in effect”.

The number of confirmed cases and deaths from coronavirus had not yet been updated by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported that Brazil had recorded 751 new deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, the fourth consecutive day with over 600 deaths in a day.

This raised the number of confirmed deaths from the disease to 9,897. According to Friday’s data, the country also registers a total of 145,328 cases. However, the Congressional decree estimates a higher number of deaths. In the justifications for the decree, Alcolumbre and Maia considered that statistics counted “more than 10,000 victims”.

They also noted “the suffering of thousands of families who lost their loved ones, unable to pay their last respects, while emphasizing “the common sentiment of the parliamentary benches of the most diverse states of the Federation and the Federal District”.

In a note, they say that “it is a tragedy that devastates us further each day. Ten thousand people loved and important to others, full of dreams, had their lives interrupted”.

“The situation we are living in is sadly unique. Our cities are paralyzed, our children are out of school, our people are scared. Fighting an enemy as invisible as it is deadly, which attacks regardless of borders or prior warning, is sacrificial and cruel,” reads the joint statement.

When Alcolumbre and Maia say this is “a difficult time for everyone,” they say the Legislative has done its part. “When it comes to protecting the lives of Brazilians, which is the greatest asset, there is no doubt as to the path to be taken; there is no possible hesitation”.

They say that the country will come out of the pandemic “bruised, bereaved, saddened, as well as other nations” and with a challenge to recover. Finally, the two presidents of the legislature stressed the call for social isolation.

“Even mourning the death of our Brazilian brothers and sisters, we urge everyone to uphold the Health authorities’ recommendations, slowing the pace of this terrible disease, while we prepare for a safe and permanent return to normality,” concludes the note.

Bolsonaro had already announced on Thursday, May 7th, and again on Friday, that he would hold a barbecue with Ministers and government officials on Saturday at the Alvorada Palace.

Faced with the negative repercussions, he canceled the gathering and referred to what he himself had announced as a lie, fake news for gullible journalists.