According to Johns Hopkins University, Brazil has broken its previous daily record of 4,195 Covid-19 fatalities, data from the Ministry of Health showed. That’s the highest number of deaths in the world in that 24-hour period, according to Johns Hopkins University. The new numbers have pushed the total death toll from a pandemic in Brazil to nearly 337,000.
In addition, nearly 87,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported across the country, bringing the total number of infections to 13,100,580, according to the Department of Health.
Bolsonaro, who has continued to downplay the severity of his country’s health crisis, brushed off claims that he was responsible for the rising death toll in the country. The president has repeatedly opposed lockdowns and restrictive measures, criticizing governors and mayors with insulting language for their implementation.
“They called me homophobic, racist, fascist, a torturer and now … what is it now? Now I am … someone who kills a lot of people? Genocidal. Now I am genocidal,” he told supporters. outside the presidential palace in Brasilia on Tuesday night, according to video on YouTube.
Several of Bolsonaro’s political opponents have accused him of “ genocide, ” using the term loosely to characterize the fallout from his Covid-19 response.
“What can’t I be blamed for here in Brazil?” Bolsonaro asked rhetorically in the video.
The Brazilian leader seemed to suggest that the pandemic was a media invention that could be solved by providing organizations with government subsidies.
“I can fix the problem with the virus in minutes. I just have to pay what governments have paid in the past to Globo, to Folha. [de São Paulo]“São Paulo state,” he said, referring to a national broadcaster and two São Paulo newspapers “Now, that money is not for the press, but for other things.”
And he was defiant in his stance on restrictions, saying that he disagreed with advocates of social distance measures, and – incorrectly – that the states that imposed tighter restrictions have higher death rates.
“Which is the most locked state? São Paulo. Which has the highest death toll proportionally? São Paulo,” he falsely asserted.
Although São Paulo has the highest absolute death toll, it ranks 10th in the number of deaths per capita.
About a third of the deaths reported Tuesday were in São Paulo, where 1,389 people died in 24 hours, state government data shows – a record for the most deaths in one day in all Brazilian states.
That’s despite the fact that a month ago the state imposed tougher measures, including the closure of businesses directly dealing with the public, such as shops, restaurants and bars.
Bolsonaro also said locking out would be counterproductive as people would be more vulnerable to the virus.
“I’ve seen recent research that people with healthy lifestyles are eight times less likely to have problems with Covid,” he said. ‘You lock people up at home … what is he doing at home? I doubt they haven’t increased their weight a bit from last year to this year. ‘
“Even I grew my stomach a little bit,” he joked.
The daily record count comes as hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) in some cities are turning patients away and as the country’s entire health system is on the verge of collapse. Brazil is fighting several new variants, some of which scientists say are more contagious. Younger people seem to become more seriously ill than in the initial phase of the pandemic, although it is unclear what role variants could play in this.
At the end of Tuesday, 23 of the 27 Brazilian federations reported an ICU occupancy rate of 80% or more. Of these, 15 have collapsed or are about to collapse, with an ICU occupancy of more than 90%. Mato Grosso do Sul already has overcapacity, while only four states have a capacity utilization rate of less than 80%.
Brazil’s vaccine rollout program is also hampered by delays.
Bolsonaro expressed interest in buying Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Bolsonaro added that the inclusion must first be approved in the country.
“We are finishing communication with the other [health] authorities, including Anvisa, on how to effectively import this vaccine, ”said Bolsonaro, referring to Brazil’s health authority.
According to the World Health Organization weekly epidemiological update on Tuesday, global cases of Covid-19 have been on the rise for the sixth consecutive week. Brazil, the US, Turkey, France and India report the highest cases.