Bolsonaro advises patients to switch doctors to receive chloroquine.
The president also reiterated his criticism of isolation measures: "As far as I'm concerned, anyone under 40 should already be working."
Forum Magazine - President Jair Bolsonaro once again defended the indiscriminate use of chloroquine for coronavirus cases and even recommended that people change doctors if they do not receive the treatment they would like.
“It’s an opportunity. You ask anyone. You’re infected. Would you take it? Of course you would. My mother is 93 years old, it’s obvious she’s going to take it, democratically she’s going to take it. She’ll consult the doctor, of course. And the doctor will certainly be in favor. I’m sure of that,” said Bolsonaro, in a live broadcast on Facebook.
And what if it doesn't work? The president, ironically, offers a solution… “The doctor doesn't abandon the patient, but the patient changes doctors. If he prescribes something that you know won't work? You have every right to change doctors,” Bolsonaro stated.
Like a pharmaceutical propagandist, the president repeatedly displayed a box of the drug containing the substance and reiterated his promise to manufacture it in the country using raw materials imported from India, an agreement announced in yesterday's speech. The use of chloroquine to combat the coronavirus and treat COVID-19 is not a consensus in the scientific community. Robust studies proving its effectiveness and its side effects are still lacking.
Bolsonaro also again mentioned cardiologist Roberto Kalil, who stated he used chloroquine to treat COVID-19, and took the opportunity to attack infectious disease specialist David Uip and Governor João Doria once more.
"Kalil confessed, he confirmed that he used it, unlike that other colleague, who is connected to the governor there. He politicized the problem," said the president.
At the start of the live broadcast, Jair Bolsonaro took the opportunity to claim credit for the aid measures approved by Congress and to criticize once again the isolation measures recommended by experts to contain the transmission of the coronavirus and avoid overloading the health system.
"There's a Supreme Court decision out there, and I don't want to get into a controversy, it states that the decision rests with the mayors and governors. Personally, I think anyone under 40 should already be working without any problem. I don't want to get into a controversy, but I am a proponent of vertical isolation," he declared.
The president also revealed that he spoke with governors about resuming activities and reopening businesses. "I have information that some mayors and governors are going to allow it. Minas Gerais has already started down this path; cities that have few or no cases, the governor there said he's going to allow it."