Jair Bolsonaro ruled out imposing lockdown after new daily death record in Brazil

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ruled out the imposition of a lockdown in the country on Wednesday, after health officials confirmed on Tuesday a record number of deaths from COVID-19 in one day, nearly 4,200.

“There will be no closure”Bolsonaro said during a visit to the city of Chapecó, in the state of Santa Catarina.

Thus, he again defended what he called the “early treatment” of the disease, with the use of drugs with no proven efficacy against the disease and that, according to the Brazilian Medical Association, should be banned from treating COVID-19.

Bolsonaro praised the management of the pandemic in Chapecó, but the city has a higher average of victims than the country

Bolsonaro has traveled to town to close a semi-intensive care unit for patients with COVID-19. According to information gathered by the G1 portal, the last patient of the establishments was transferred on Saturday and the structure was closed, with space for 75 people.

The Brazilian president praised the management of the pandemic in the city of Chapecó. “An example to follow,” he said, stressing that this serves “to show all of Brazil that the virus is serious, but that its effects can be combated”.

However, Chapecó has more deaths from COVID-19 than the national and state average. The death rate per 100,000 inhabitants is 240.6, while in Brazil it is located 160.3. In Santa Catarina, according to data from the Ministry of Health updated on Wednesday, the index is at 161.2.

With intense pressure on its health system, the city of 224,000 residents suspended non-essential activities for 14 days at the end of February. Certain services such as restaurants or markets, which were able to remain open, reduced their opening hours and reduced the maximum capacity of people.

In recent weeks, the city has seen a drop in the number of active coronavirus cases and patients with the disease waiting to be admitted to intensive care units. Local authorities attribute this to an increase in diagnostic capacity, prompt treatment of patients, restrictive measures and monitoring of patients.

Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly reduced the severity of the pandemic, has repeatedly refused to impose restrictions on Brazil to contain COVID-19. Brazil is the second most affected country in the world, with more than 13.1 million people infected and around 337,000 deaths from the disease.

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