“Bolsonaro needs to drastically change his course or he will have to be the next to leave,” says the editorial of the scientific journal ‘The Lancet’ | Coronavirus

Editorial is the name given to the article that represents the opinion of the media that publishes it.

“The Lancet” highlights as worrying in Brazil the fact that “the estimate of the doubling rate of the number of deaths is only 5 days”, in addition to “being the country with the highest transmission rate” among the 48 evaluated by Imperial College London

The Brazilian president, the editorial says, sows “confusion, openly despising and discouraging the sensible measures of physical distance and confinement introduced by state governors and city mayors,” in addition to having lost two important ministers: Luiz Henrique Mandetta and Sergio. I live.

Recalling Bolsonaro’s reaction with the phrase “So what? Sorry, what do you want me to do?” When asked about the rapid increase in deaths in the country, “The Lancet” states: “Brazil as a country must come together to give a clear answer to ‘So what?’ from the president. Bolsonaro needs to change his course drastically or he will have to be the next to leave. ”

See the full editorial on “The Lancet” below:

COVID-19 in Brazil: “So what?”

The Covid-19 epidemic hit Latin America later than other continents. The first case registered in Brazil was on February 25, 2020. But now, Brazil has the highest number of cases and deaths from Covid-19 in Latin America (105,222 infections and 7288 cases, respectively, registered on May 5), and these figures probably represent a great understatement. Even more worrying is the fact that the estimated doubling rate of deaths is only 5 days, and that Brazil is the country with the highest transmission rate (R0 of 2.81), according to a recent study by Imperial College (London , United Kingdom), which analyzed the active transmission rate of COVID-19 in 48 countries.

Right now, big cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the main foci, but there are signs that the infection is moving to the interior of the states, where the smallest cities are located, without adequate provisions for well-cared beds. intensive and fans. Still, perhaps the biggest threat to Covid-19’s response to Brazil is its president, Jair Bolsonaro. When asked last week by journalists about the rapid increase in cases, he replied: “So what? Sorry what do you want me to do “Not only does he continue to sow confusion, openly despising and discouraging the sensible measures of physical separation and confinement introduced by state governors and city mayors, but he also lost two important and influential ministers in the past 3 weeks.”

First, on April 16, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, the respected and esteemed Minister of Health, was fired after a television interview, in which he strongly criticized Bolsonaro’s actions and asked for a voice of unity to avoid the 210 million Brazilians who are totally confused. Then, on April 24, after Bolsonaro’s dismissal of the director general of the Federal Police, Justice Minister Sérgio Moro announced his own resignation.

This minister was one of the most powerful figures in Brazil’s right-wing government, appointed by Bolsonaro to fight corruption. This disorganization at the center of government administration is not only a distraction with fatal consequences in the midst of a public health emergency, but also a strong signal that the leadership in Brazil has lost its moral compass, if ever one.

Even without political action at the federal level, Brazil would have a difficult challenge in the fight against Covid-19. Some 13 million Brazilians live in slums, which often have houses with more than three people per room and reduced access to clean water. The recommendations for physical distance and hygiene are practically impossible to follow in these conditions. Still, several favelas have organized to implement measures in the best possible way.

Brazil has a very large informal employment sector, where most sources of income are no longer an option in view of the measures implemented. The indigenous population was already under serious threat even before the arrival of Covid-19 because the government has ignored or even encouraged the illegal exploitation of mines and wood in the Amazon jungle. There is now a risk that these miners and loggers will introduce this new disease to remote populations. An open letter released May 3, written by a global coalition of artists, celebrities, scientists and intellectuals, and organized by photojournalist Sebastião Salgado, warned of an impending genocide.

And how has the scientific community and civil society reacted in a country known for its activism and open opposition to injustice and inequality, and where health is a constitutional right? Many scientific organizations, such as the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and Abrasco, have long opposed Bolsonaro due to drastic cuts in science funding and the destruction of social security and public services in general.

In the context of Covid-19, many organizations released manifestoes addressed to the public, such as the “Pact for life and for Brazil,” and wrote statements and appeals to government officials calling for unity and joint solutions. The protests of the population are frequent and include flowerpots on the balconies during the presidential communications. There is a lot of research to do, from basic science to epidemiology, and there is a rapid production of personal protective equipment, respirators, and test kits.

These are hopeful actions. However, leadership at the highest level of government is crucial to quickly avert the worst of this pandemic, as has been demonstrated in other countries. In our series of articles published on Brazil in 2009, the authors concluded: “Ultimately, the challenge is political, it requires the continued participation of Brazilian society as a whole, to guarantee the right to health of all the Brazilian people” . Brazil as a country must unite to give a clear answer to “So what? “Of the president. Bolsonaro needs to dramatically change his course or he will have to be the next to leave.