Without presenting evidence or citing an alleged document from the Federal Audit Office (TCU), the state’s oversight body, which has already ruled on the matter and has denied the publication of any report that questioned the number of deaths from COVID-19, Bolsonaro questioned the official data. , accounting for 475,000 deaths from the new coronavirus, and reiterated that the real number “should be” 50% lower.
However, data from the Ministry of Health rank Brazil as one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, along with the United States and India in both cases and deaths.
However, Bolsonaro reiterated his view that the figures were fraudulently “inflated” by governors and mayors, as they receive “additional financial resources” from the federal government to fight the pandemic, which, according to experts, is about to open in a new vacancy in the country. …
Bolsonaro insisted on his theory during a ceremony held at an evangelical church in Anapolis, 150 kilometers from Brasilia, which brought together some 20 neo-Pentecostal pastors who are part of his political base.
The president also said many deaths were avoided thanks to “early treatment” promoted by his government, which includes a number of drugs that are ineffective against covid-19.
“If we eliminate possible scams, in 2020 we will have the country with the lowest number of deaths per million people due to Covid. What is this miracle? Early treatment, ”Bolsonaro said.
“A miracle happened. “Early treatment and chloroquine,” said the head of state, receiving applause from the shepherds, who also promoted “three Amazonian herbal tea,” which Bolsonaro said was used by two indigenous tribes that “didn’t have death alone. author: covid-19 “.
Bolsonaro, who denies the severity of the pandemic, also compared the drug hydroxychloroquine to vaccines used against covid-19.
The Brazilian president assessed that there was no scientific evidence for the vaccine’s effectiveness, saying the antidotes were in an experimental phase.
“[Medicamentos do chamado tratamento precoce] have no scientific evidence. And I ask: Is the vaccine scientifically proven or is it still experimental? this is [em estado] experimental, “he said, citing the local press.
However, the effectiveness of all vaccines used in the country has been validated by the National Health Surveillance Agency, a regulatory body in Brazil.
Brazil currently has 476,792 deaths and 17 million infections, making it one of the countries most affected by the pandemic in the world and approaching the third wave of the disease.
According to the French agency AFP, the pandemic has caused at least 3,750,028 deaths worldwide as a result of more than 173.9 million infections.
