Journalist who died from coronavirus denounced in audio recordings that he was forced to work for SBT.

By Paulo Moreira Leite, from Journalists for Democracy - A victim of Covid-19 in a tragedy of life under the pandemic, the death of the video editor José Augusto Nascimento Silva, known as Naná, from SBT-Rio, should serve as a reflection for Brazilians, at this moment when Bolsonaro and big businessmen are orchestrating the end of the quarantine.

The infection and death of Naná, 57, who had worked for 30 years at one of the country's largest media groups, owned by Silvio Santos, a loyal and friendly supporter of Bolsonaro, followed a similar script to what is seen in many workplaces across the country. In a plague that predates the new coronavirus, we know that in Brazil workers are routinely forced to continue working even when their health is not in order.

This time, however, the tragedy was preserved by an essential element -- journalism.

Witnessing her own death, Naná recorded warning audio messages via WhatsApp, denouncing the risks she was running, reveals the... Daniel Castro, from the TV News column.

This testimony is very useful for understanding, in a time of pandemic, the importance of ensuring the preservation of human lives.

“Nowhere in Rio de Janeiro has more suspected cases than at SBT. (...) I am now under suspicion, even with a 14-day sick leave certificate that the doctor gave me because I took precautions, you know I'm not stupid. If I have to sue these people, I will. I think it's a tremendous irresponsibility,” says Naná.

Any citizen who has ever set foot on the grounds of a Brazilian company is able to recognize the world it describes.

Pressured by their superiors, many managers often turn a blind eye to warning signs involving employees' health problems. While this behavior may be routine, during the Covid-19 pandemic it can lead to death.

Naná states in one of the videos that a female employee from SBT (a Brazilian television network) even asked to be excused from work when she learned that her husband was suspected of having Covid-19. Her request was denied, and she had to continue working until her husband's illness was confirmed.

As one might easily imagine, the routine interaction with a large number of colleagues ended up producing – probably – a case of mass contamination. Currently, out of the 75 journalism employees, 35 are off work with suspected Covid-19.

Between suspicion, infection, and Naná's death, 22 days passed. Less than a month: the virus is aggressive and fast.

The image editor had to be hospitalized at the end of March and four days ago was taken to the ICU, where he died this Monday.

The importance of this tragedy needs no further explanation. With his video memoir, José Augusto Nascimento Silva produced a masterpiece of Brazilian and world journalism. It will be available to anyone interested in understanding a terrible period in human history.

A correspondent of a war where men and women don't die from gunshots, but are shot in the trenches of disrespect and contempt for their lives, Naná left behind a unique document that should be debated by the Supreme Court, Congress, and, above all, by the population that Bolsonaro's regime intends to lead like cattle to the slaughterhouse.

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(This text was updated at 3:45 AM on April 15, 2020)