Finished, the term "little flu"? Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro admitted on Tuesday March 31 that the Covid-19 epidemic constitutes "the greatest challenge" posed to his generation, while maintaining that the fight against the pandemic should not harm the economy.

Some 201 people died of the virus in Brazil, a country of 210 million people, where authorities warned that the peak of the epidemic would not be reached before the end of April.

"Brazil has progressed a lot in the past 15 months (since coming to power, editor's note), but now we are facing the greatest challenge of our generation," acknowledged the far-right president during a solemn address.

Minimized magnitude

Jair Bolsonaro has continually downplayed the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic and criticized the containment measures taken worldwide and by the majority of Brazilian states, opposing the need to preserve the economy and jobs. "We have a mission, to save lives without forgetting jobs," he said during his speech Tuesday night.

"On the one hand, we have to be careful, take precautions with everyone, especially the elderly and those with underlying illnesses. On the other hand, we have to fight rapidly growing unemployment, particularly among the poorest, "argued the president. "The collateral effect of the measures taken to fight the coronavirus can not be worse than the disease itself," he said, taking up an argument already used by US President Donald Trump.

Controversy

Pan concerts hosted his brief speech in major cities across the country. His positions hostile to the containment of the population go against the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and experts, including his Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta, a doctor.

The Brazilian president also sparked controversy on Tuesday, highlighting an extract from a speech by the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, insinuating that he was in favor of stopping distancing measures social. What the director of the institution denied on Twitter, without mentioning Jair Bolsonaro. "I do not use these words to deny the importance of preventive measures against the pandemic," assured Jair Bolsonaro in his speech.

With AFP

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