Brazil broke its previous daily record with 4,195 Covid-19 deaths, Health Ministry data showed on Tuesday – marking the highest number of deaths in the world for that 24-hour period, according to Johns Hopkins University. The new figures put the total death toll in pandemic Brazil at nearly 337,000.
In addition, nearly 87,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported across the country, bringing the total number of infections to 13,100,580, according to the health ministry.
Bolsonaro, who continued to downplay the severity of his country’s health crisis, rejected allegations that he was to blame for the country’s total death toll. The President has repeatedly opposed the blockade and restrictive measures and has criticized the rulers and mayors with offensive language for their implementation.
“They called me homophobic, racist, fascist, torturer and now … what is it now? Now I am … someone who kills many people? Genocide. Now I am genocide,” he told supporters outside the Palace. Presidential in Brasilia on Tuesday night, according to the video posted on YouTube.
Several of Bolsonaro’s political opponents have accused him of “genocide,” using the term vaguely to characterize the consequences of his Covid-19 response.
“Why am I not guilty here in Brazil?” Bolsonaro asked rhetorically in the video.
The Brazilian leader seemed to imply that the pandemic was an invention of the media that could be solved by awarding government grants to organizations.
“I can solve the problem with the virus in a few minutes. I just have to pay what governments used to pay Globo, Folha. [de São Paulo]”State of São Paulo”, he said, referring to a national broadcaster and two newspapers in São Paulo. “Now, that money is not for the press, but for other things.”
And he was defiant in his stance on restrictions, saying he disagreed with proponents of social distancing measures and arguing – incorrectly – that states that imposed tougher restrictions face higher mortality rates.
“Which state has blocked the most? São Paulo. Which of them has the highest number of deaths, proportionately? São Paulo,” he falsely said.
Although São Paulo has the highest absolute number of deaths, it ranks 10th in the number of deaths per capita.
About a third of the deaths reported on Tuesday occurred in São Paulo, where 1,389 people died in 24 hours, according to state government data – a record for the most deaths in a single day in any Brazilian state.
This is despite the fact that the state imposed more restrictive measures a month ago, including closing deals that deal directly with the public, such as shops, restaurants and bars.
Bolsonaro also said the blockade would be counterproductive, as people would be more vulnerable to the virus.
“We’ve seen some recent research that those who have a healthy lifestyle are eight times less likely to have problems with Covid,” he said. “He locks people at home … what does he do at home? I doubt they’ve gained a little weight since last year.”
“Even I grew my belly a little,” he joked.
The record number is coming as hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) in some cities are removing patients and as the nation’s entire health system is on the verge of collapse. Brazil is struggling with several new variants, some of which scientists believe are more contagious. Younger people seem to get sicker than in the early stages of the pandemic, although it is not clear what role variants can play in this trend.
Late Tuesday, 23 of Brazil’s 27 federations reported an ICU occupancy rate of 80% or more. Of these, 15 have collapsed or are about to collapse, with ICU occupancy exceeding 90%. Mato Grosso do Sul is already over capacity, while only four states occupy less than 80%.
The vaccine launch program in Brazil has also been hampered by delays.
Bolsonaro expressed interest in purchasing Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bolsonaro added that the shooting will first need approval in the country.
“We are finalizing communications with the other [health] authorities, including Anvisa, on how we can effectively import this vaccine, “Bolsonaro said, referring to Brazil’s health regulatory agency.
Global cases of Covid-19 have risen for the sixth week in a row, according to the World Health Organization’s Weekly Epidemiological Update on Tuesday. Brazil, the USA, Turkey, France and India report the highest number of cases.