Bolsonaro changes health minister again, as Brazil's Covid cases surge
Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has appointed his fourth health minister of the pandemic, which has flared up in a deadly second wave in 2021 as a mutant strain of coronavirus sweeps the country EVARISTO SA AFP/File
Issued on: 16/03/2021 -
BrasÃlia (AFP)
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro announced Monday that he will appoint cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as health minister, the fourth to hold the post during the pandemic, as the country's health system staggers amid surging Covid-19 cases.
"It was decided now in the afternoon to appoint physician Marcelo Queiroga to the Ministry of Health," Bolsonaro said in a brief meeting with his supporters at the Alvorada presidential palace.
The transition process "should take one or two weeks," he added.
The appointment will be finalized Tuesday. Bolsonaro made the announcement after meeting with Queiroga, and hours after current health minister Eduardo Pazuello told a press-conference that the president was seeking to replace him to "reorganize" the ministry.
"The conversation (with Queiroga) was excellent," Bolsonaro said. "He has everything in my opinion to do a good job, giving continuity in everything Pazuello did until today."
The appointment of Queiroga, the president of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), comes as Bolsonaro's government faces harsh criticism for its chaotic handling of the coronavirus pandemic and denials of the severity of the crisis.
"From now on we are going to a more aggressive phase regarding the fight against the virus," far-right Bolsonaro said.
Before leaving office, Pazuello announced the government had purchased 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which should be delivered by September. He also said that some 38 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine should arrive in the second half of 2021.
The completion of the purchase is vital to speed up Brazil's vaccination campaign, as the country has seen a spike in new Covid-19 cases and deaths since February.
The recent wave has brought hospitals in more than half of the South American nation's 27 states to the brink of collapse and caused state governors to order more restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.
The country of 212 million people has lost nearly 280,000 people to the disease, second only to the United States.
Pazuello's two predecessors in the post had fallen foul of Bolsonaro by questioning the lack of "scientific" guidance the president was taking to tackle the pandemic.
But Pazuello, an army general with no previous medical experience, took a military approach to his job, saying last October, "It's that simple: one commands and the other obeys."
Epidemiologist Mauro Sanchez of the University of Brasilia said the new minister will have the delicate task of trying to plot a "change of course" in the health policy in Brazil, which has become the global epicenter of the pandemic.
"Without controlling the pandemic and with the emergence of new mutations, Brazil is perceived as a threat," Sanchez told AFP.
The fact that Queiroga is a doctor does not guarantee him success, he said, but in the current context, "it brings a certain reassurance to the population and gives him a certain legitimacy in office."
Brazil is in the grip of a second wave of the pandemic, with more than 1,800 deaths per day on average, up from to 703 at the beginning of the year. That growth has been fueled by a new strain of the coronavirus that is at least twice as contagious as the original.
Issued on: 16/03/2021 -
BrasÃlia (AFP)
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro announced Monday that he will appoint cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as health minister, the fourth to hold the post during the pandemic, as the country's health system staggers amid surging Covid-19 cases.
"It was decided now in the afternoon to appoint physician Marcelo Queiroga to the Ministry of Health," Bolsonaro said in a brief meeting with his supporters at the Alvorada presidential palace.
The transition process "should take one or two weeks," he added.
The appointment will be finalized Tuesday. Bolsonaro made the announcement after meeting with Queiroga, and hours after current health minister Eduardo Pazuello told a press-conference that the president was seeking to replace him to "reorganize" the ministry.
"The conversation (with Queiroga) was excellent," Bolsonaro said. "He has everything in my opinion to do a good job, giving continuity in everything Pazuello did until today."
The appointment of Queiroga, the president of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), comes as Bolsonaro's government faces harsh criticism for its chaotic handling of the coronavirus pandemic and denials of the severity of the crisis.
"From now on we are going to a more aggressive phase regarding the fight against the virus," far-right Bolsonaro said.
Before leaving office, Pazuello announced the government had purchased 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which should be delivered by September. He also said that some 38 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine should arrive in the second half of 2021.
The completion of the purchase is vital to speed up Brazil's vaccination campaign, as the country has seen a spike in new Covid-19 cases and deaths since February.
The recent wave has brought hospitals in more than half of the South American nation's 27 states to the brink of collapse and caused state governors to order more restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.
The country of 212 million people has lost nearly 280,000 people to the disease, second only to the United States.
Pazuello's two predecessors in the post had fallen foul of Bolsonaro by questioning the lack of "scientific" guidance the president was taking to tackle the pandemic.
But Pazuello, an army general with no previous medical experience, took a military approach to his job, saying last October, "It's that simple: one commands and the other obeys."
Epidemiologist Mauro Sanchez of the University of Brasilia said the new minister will have the delicate task of trying to plot a "change of course" in the health policy in Brazil, which has become the global epicenter of the pandemic.
"Without controlling the pandemic and with the emergence of new mutations, Brazil is perceived as a threat," Sanchez told AFP.
The fact that Queiroga is a doctor does not guarantee him success, he said, but in the current context, "it brings a certain reassurance to the population and gives him a certain legitimacy in office."
Brazil is in the grip of a second wave of the pandemic, with more than 1,800 deaths per day on average, up from to 703 at the beginning of the year. That growth has been fueled by a new strain of the coronavirus that is at least twice as contagious as the original.
Under fire, Brazil's Bolsonaro tones down on Covid
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has changed his tone slightly on Covid-19, which he once called a 'little flu'
Issued on: 17/03/2021 -
Rio de Janeiro (AFP)
Gone are the days when Covid-19 was a "little flu" -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has changed his pandemic-skeptic tune lately, sacking his widely criticized health minister, ordering millions of vaccines and even wearing a mask.
But while a surge in coronavirus deaths in hard-hit Brazil has put the far-right leader on the defensive, analysts doubt he will change his hardline stance on some key issues anytime soon -- including his vitriolic opposition to stay-at-home measures.
"I don't see him making a definitive change. His beliefs are still the same," said political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University.
"This is a strategic retreat. He's being pressured by his allies, especially in Congress, because the pandemic is out of control," he told AFP.
The political pressure increased a few notches last week, when a Supreme Court justice annulled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's corruption convictions.
The surprise ruling cleared the way for the popular-if-tarnished left-wing heavyweight to launch a potential run against Bolsonaro in presidential elections next year.
Lula, who led the country from 2003 to 2010, wasted no time condemning Bolsonaro's "imbecile" handling of the pandemic and getting vaccinated before the cameras.
That is something Bolsonaro has pointedly refused to do, once joking the vaccine might "turn you into an alligator".
The politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump" has also flouted expert advice on social distancing and face masks.
A recent poll found 61 percent of people disapprove of his response to the pandemic, which has claimed some 280,000 lives in Brazil -- second only to the United States.
The country saw yet another day of record deaths Tuesday, with 2,841 people dying in 24 hours -- an increase of more than 550 over the previous record last week. There were 83,926 new infections in the same period, the second-highest 24-hour case count since the pandemic began.
"At this point, the only hope for a change in direction is a fear of losing votes -- the one thing Bolsonaro reacts to," newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo said in an editorial.
- 'More aggressive phase' -
With hospitals across much of Brazil approaching breaking point, Bolsonaro gave in Monday to pressure to fire health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an army general with no medical experience.
He replaced him with Marcelo Queiroga, a respected cardiologist.
Bolsonaro is now on his fourth health minister of the pandemic, after falling out with the previous two when they insisted on science-based policy responses.
Pazuello, who stayed in the job 10 months, "only lasted as long as he did because he did everything the president wanted," said commentator Andreia Sadi of TV Globo.
"Now the president's been advised to change because the pandemic is getting worse. He understood he had to make a U-turn. People want vaccines."
Brazil has so far struggled to secure enough vaccine doses for its 212 million people.
But Pazuello announced a change in course on his way out: orders for 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and another 38 million of Johnson & Johnson's.
"We are going to a more aggressive phase in the fight against the virus," said Bolsonaro.
- Machine-gun syringe -
The "aggressivity" extends to the realm where Bolsonaro thrives best: social media.
His son Flavio, a senator, urged the president's fans online to share a picture of a syringe mounted on a machine gun, with the caption "the vaccine is our weapon."
The message appeared to cause some head-scratching among hardline supporters, more used to their leader touting actual guns and railing against Covid-19 vaccines.
"It's a positive change," said epidemiologist Julio Croda of the University of Mato Grosso do Sul.
"But we hope more changes are on the way, like backing mask use and restrictive measures. That's essential to avoid the total collapse of the health system."
He added that he was doubtful, however.
"Bolsonaro can't stand those things," he said.
The president's initial choice for health minister, Dr Ludhmila Hajjar, declined the job after meeting with Bolsonaro on Sunday, citing "divergent" views.
News site Poder 360 reported that the president told her she would "screw" his re-election chances if she insisted on a lockdown in the impoverished northeast, where Bolsonaro has been courting votes.
Opponents would like to see just that.
"It's no use changing ministers if the policies stay the same," said left-wing Governor Flavio Dino of the northeastern state of Maranhao.
"If the president keeps mucking things up, it's going to be hard for any minister to get the job done."
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has changed his tone slightly on Covid-19, which he once called a 'little flu' Issued on: 17/03/2021 -
Rio de Janeiro (AFP)
Gone are the days when Covid-19 was a "little flu" -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has changed his pandemic-skeptic tune lately, sacking his widely criticized health minister, ordering millions of vaccines and even wearing a mask.
But while a surge in coronavirus deaths in hard-hit Brazil has put the far-right leader on the defensive, analysts doubt he will change his hardline stance on some key issues anytime soon -- including his vitriolic opposition to stay-at-home measures.
"I don't see him making a definitive change. His beliefs are still the same," said political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University.
"This is a strategic retreat. He's being pressured by his allies, especially in Congress, because the pandemic is out of control," he told AFP.
The political pressure increased a few notches last week, when a Supreme Court justice annulled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's corruption convictions.
The surprise ruling cleared the way for the popular-if-tarnished left-wing heavyweight to launch a potential run against Bolsonaro in presidential elections next year.
Lula, who led the country from 2003 to 2010, wasted no time condemning Bolsonaro's "imbecile" handling of the pandemic and getting vaccinated before the cameras.
That is something Bolsonaro has pointedly refused to do, once joking the vaccine might "turn you into an alligator".
The politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump" has also flouted expert advice on social distancing and face masks.
A recent poll found 61 percent of people disapprove of his response to the pandemic, which has claimed some 280,000 lives in Brazil -- second only to the United States.
The country saw yet another day of record deaths Tuesday, with 2,841 people dying in 24 hours -- an increase of more than 550 over the previous record last week. There were 83,926 new infections in the same period, the second-highest 24-hour case count since the pandemic began.
"At this point, the only hope for a change in direction is a fear of losing votes -- the one thing Bolsonaro reacts to," newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo said in an editorial.
- 'More aggressive phase' -
With hospitals across much of Brazil approaching breaking point, Bolsonaro gave in Monday to pressure to fire health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an army general with no medical experience.
He replaced him with Marcelo Queiroga, a respected cardiologist.
Bolsonaro is now on his fourth health minister of the pandemic, after falling out with the previous two when they insisted on science-based policy responses.
Pazuello, who stayed in the job 10 months, "only lasted as long as he did because he did everything the president wanted," said commentator Andreia Sadi of TV Globo.
"Now the president's been advised to change because the pandemic is getting worse. He understood he had to make a U-turn. People want vaccines."
Brazil has so far struggled to secure enough vaccine doses for its 212 million people.
But Pazuello announced a change in course on his way out: orders for 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and another 38 million of Johnson & Johnson's.
"We are going to a more aggressive phase in the fight against the virus," said Bolsonaro.
- Machine-gun syringe -
The "aggressivity" extends to the realm where Bolsonaro thrives best: social media.
His son Flavio, a senator, urged the president's fans online to share a picture of a syringe mounted on a machine gun, with the caption "the vaccine is our weapon."
The message appeared to cause some head-scratching among hardline supporters, more used to their leader touting actual guns and railing against Covid-19 vaccines.
"It's a positive change," said epidemiologist Julio Croda of the University of Mato Grosso do Sul.
"But we hope more changes are on the way, like backing mask use and restrictive measures. That's essential to avoid the total collapse of the health system."
He added that he was doubtful, however.
"Bolsonaro can't stand those things," he said.
The president's initial choice for health minister, Dr Ludhmila Hajjar, declined the job after meeting with Bolsonaro on Sunday, citing "divergent" views.
News site Poder 360 reported that the president told her she would "screw" his re-election chances if she insisted on a lockdown in the impoverished northeast, where Bolsonaro has been courting votes.
Opponents would like to see just that.
"It's no use changing ministers if the policies stay the same," said left-wing Governor Flavio Dino of the northeastern state of Maranhao.
"If the president keeps mucking things up, it's going to be hard for any minister to get the job done."
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