Coronavirus: Second health minister in Brazil falls in less than a month

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The Brazilian Minister of Health Nelson Teich presented his resignation this Friday, May 15, for "differences of opinion on the measures" of fight against the coronavirus with the government.

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Less than a month after the dismissal of his predecessor , Brazilian Minister of Health Nelson Teich resigned on Friday. "  Today I decided to leave,  " he said in a statement to the press, without explaining the reasons for his resignation. "  Right now, the whole country is fighting for the health of Brazil  ."

According to sources contacted by Agence France-Presse, this decision was taken because of disagreements with President Jair Bolsonaro, in particular on chloroquine treatments, which the latter advocates, while their effectiveness has not been proven. scientifically.

Nelson Teich, an oncologist by training, had replaced the popular Henrique Mandetta, also a doctor, on April 17, sacked by Jair Bolsonaro after a succession of discrepancies which were brought to light in the fight against coronavirus. This dismissal had been greeted in some cities by concerts of saucepans in protest. These same scenes were repeated this Friday, especially in Rio, accompanied by shouts calling for the departure of the Brazilian president.

Jair Bolsonaro is fiercely opposed to containment measures in this country of 210 million inhabitants in the name of safeguarding employment and the Brazilian economy. Meanwhile, the contamination curve continues to progress alarmingly in the country of 210 million inhabitants, with nearly 14,000 deaths for more than 200,000 confirmed cases and a peak expected only in June. But according to scientists, these official figures are far below the reality.

(With AFP )

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• Brazil
• Coronavirus
• Jair Bolsonaro