[ad_1]
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday launched the United Nations General Assembly defending the use of ineffective drugs to treat the coronavirus and pushing back against criticism of his government’s environmental record.
Brazil’s far-right president said doctors should have been given more leeway to administer drugs not tested for Covid-19, adding that he was among those who recovered after “off-label” treatment with an antimalarial pill that studies have found ineffective in treating the disease.
“History and science will hold everyone accountable,” said Bolsonaro, whose handling of the pandemic in South America’s largest country has been widely criticized.
Mr Bolsonaro’s decision not to get the coronavirus vaccine came about during his early days in New York. It was an awkward moment during a meeting on Monday with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who praised the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was developed at the University of Oxford.
“Get AstraZeneca vaccines,” Johnson said when meeting with the Brazilian president. “I’ve had it twice.”
Mr. Bolsonaro pointed his finger and said, “Not yet.”
The Brazilian president has led one of the world’s most criticized responses to the pandemic. Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the threat posed by the virus, denounced the quarantine measures and was fined for refusing to wear a mask in the capital.
His government was slow to secure access to coronavirus vaccines even as the virus overwhelmed hospitals across the country. The Covid-19 has killed more than 590,000 people in Brazil.
Mr Bolsonaro, who had a mild case of Covid-19 in July of last year, said he was in no rush to get the shot. Earlier this year, the president said he was not set on getting the shot.
“I already had the virus,” he said in a television video. “I think what has to happen is that after the last Brazilian is vaccinated, if there is a spare vaccine, I will decide whether or not to get the vaccine.” He added that “this is the example the boss must provide.”
This has caused logistical problems when it comes to finding a place to eat in New York City, where restaurants require customers to show proof of vaccination for indoor seats. Mr. Bolsonaro and his group of travelers eagerly adopted the rule. Sunday, one of his ministers posted a photo of the president and several senior staff eating pizza standing in the street.
Understanding the mandates of vaccines and masks in the United States
-
- Vaccination rules. On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration fully approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 years of age and older, paving the way for increased tenure in the public and private sectors. Private companies increasingly require vaccines for their employees. Such warrants are authorized by law and have been confirmed in court challenges.
- Mask rules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July recommended that all Americans, regardless of immunization status, wear masks in indoor public places in areas affected by epidemics, a reversal of guidelines it offered in May. . See where the CDC guidelines would apply and where states have instituted their own mask policies. The battle for masks has become controversial in some states, with some local leaders defying state bans.
- College and universities. More than 400 colleges and universities require students to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Almost all of them are in states that voted for President Biden.
- Schools. California and New York City have both introduced vaccination mandates for education staff. A survey released in August found that many American parents of school-aged children are opposed to mandatory vaccines for students, but were more in favor of mask mandates for students, teachers and staff who don’t. don’t have their vaccines.
- Hospitals and medical centers. Many hospitals and large healthcare systems are requiring their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, citing an increase in the number of cases fueled by the Delta variant and stubbornly low vaccination rates in their communities, even within their hand -work.
- New York City. Proof of vaccination is required from workers and customers for indoor meals, gyms, shows and other indoor situations, although enforcement does not begin until September 13. Teachers and other education workers in the city’s vast school system will need to have at least one dose vaccine by September 27, with no possibility of weekly testing. Employees of the city’s hospitals must also get vaccinated or undergo weekly tests. Similar rules are in place for New York State employees.
- At the federal level. The Pentagon has announced it will seek to make coronavirus vaccination mandatory for the nation’s 1.3 million active-duty soldiers “no later than” mid-September. President Biden announced that all federal civilian employees should be vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo regular testing, social distancing, mask requirements and restrictions on most travel.
“A luxurious dinner in New York,” joked Minister Luiz Ramos.
During Mr Bolsonaro’s speech on Tuesday, activists demonstrated near UN headquarters against Mr Bolsonaro’s environmental and economic policies, which critics say have contributed to the devastation of the Amazon rainforest and famine widespread in Brazil.
Previously, activists had projected messages on a building next to the Brooklyn Bridge that read: “Bolsonaro will rest at the United Nations” and “Bolsonaro burns your future”.
Mr. Bolsonaro began his speech by telling the assembly that his nation was unfairly portrayed in the press.
“I came here to show a different Brazil than what is shown in the newspapers and on television,” he said. “Brazil has changed a lot since we took office in January 2019.”
Mr. Bolsonaro’s government has weakened enforcement of environmental laws and emptied the agencies responsible for enforcing them. Still, on Tuesday, he argued that Brazil should be applauded for how much of its forests have remained intact and said the country could sustainably develop land in ecologically critical regions like the Amazon.
“The future of green jobs is in Brazil,” he said.
[ad_2]
Source link