The government's negligence regarding COVID-19

Originally published on Thinking about Piauí

While the number of Brazilian deaths begins to be tallied in the country, the federal government remains recalcitrant, with the exception of the actions of the Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta. This posture of prevarication, therefore a crime of responsibility, is led above all by President Jair Bolsonaro, who, individually, continues to downplay the extent of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He then continues to attack the National Congress, the Supreme Federal Court (STF), and institutions in general.

Bolsonaro continues to fuel an artificial political crisis, ignoring the advance of the disease in Brazil, where a major humanitarian and economic tragedy is likely to occur if federal authorities do not take emergency measures to contain the coronavirus, as other countries have done. As noted by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), the Executive branch is delaying, for example, in closing borders and prohibiting the arrival of flights from countries in crisis.

The press conference given by the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, this Monday (March 16), followed this script, recommending that "younger people" continue to circulate on the streets to work and study, as they are less vulnerable to the most serious effects of the disease. Guedes forgets that, even if part of the infected population does not show symptoms, they become a vector of transmission, spreading the virus in their homes and wherever they go, through transportation systems, on public roads, etc., which can increase the number of victims.

Demoralization and humiliation

Thus, Bolsonaro's reaction goes against the warnings, recommendations, and guidelines of his own Minister of Health, in an attempt to demoralize or humiliate him, and all the health authorities mobilized to prevent overcrowding in intensive care units in hospitals. Even participating in a meeting with part of his ministry at the Planalto Palace, where a "crisis cabinet" was created to monitor the situation, the president has not yet made a responsible statement regarding the problem.

Regardless, the presidents of Congress and the Supreme Court meet, without the unwelcome presence of Bolsonaro, and take a series of preventive and cautious actions aimed at emptying the offices, corridors, and plenary halls of these branches of government, which will operate through a remote deliberation system. In other words, discussions and votes will take place remotely, which is correct and necessary at this point. After an absurd hesitation, the government announces that it will only close part of the border with Venezuela.

Due to the president's influence, the country undoubtedly continues to keep its borders open, while almost all its South American neighbors have already decided to close them completely. This gives a measure of the level of seriousness in handling this crisis compared to other nations on the continent. Bolsonaro behaved as if nothing or very little was happening, but finally asked Congress to recognize a state of public calamity throughout the national territory. Has he finally woken up to reality?