Lancet Considers Bolsonaro ‘Greatest Threat to Brazil’s Response to Covid-19’

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a text in the May 9th issue, currently available to subscribers, the scientific journal published in the United Kingdom stresses that Brazil is the country in Latin America with the most infections and deaths from the disease (125,218 cases and 8536 deaths), and says these numbers are “probably substantial underestimates”.

The magazine also projects that the scenario will worsen very soon, and recalls that a recent study by London’s Imperial College pointed out that Brazil is the country with the highest rate of Covid-19 transmission in the world. and that the epidemic, formerly restricted to the largest cities in the country, is spreading through the interior, without ICU beds, and with few ventilators.

The magazine also cites last week’s incident when the President was asked by journalists about the rapidly increasing death toll from the disease and replied: “So what? I’m sorry, what do you want me to do?”

According to the publication, the exits of Luiz Henrique Mandetta from the Ministry of Health and Sérgio Moro from the Ministry of Justice show that a “disarray at the heart of the administration is a deadly distraction in the middle of a public health emergency and is also a stark sign that Brazil’s leadership has lost its moral compass, if it ever had one.”.

The editorial also mentions the poor sanitary conditions of the favelas and the invasions carried out by loggers, farmers, and miners in indigenous territory, whose population was already threatened before the pandemic and now has the disease brought in by trespassers. The publication cites the open letter led by photographer Sebastião Salgado who described the situation as an “impending genocide”.

The magazine also speaks of the calls for unity issued by the scientific community and civil society and points out the pot-banging protests against Bolsonaro – a picture of such protests illustrates the editorial.

The publication praised the efforts of Brazilian scientists who have published articles on basic science and epidemiology and described the fast production of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and tests as “hopeful actions”.

The Lancet, however, cautions at the end of the editorial that “leadership at the highest level of government is crucial in quickly averting the worst outcome of this pandemic,” and recalled a 2009 article published on the Brazilian health system in which it analyzed that the maintenance of the SUS [National Health System] is dependent on the engagement of the entire Brazilian population.

“Brazil as a country must come together to give a clear answer to the ‘So what?’ by its President. He needs to drastically change course or he may be the next to go”.

Source: UOL