The total number of deaths from Covid-19 identified in Brazil rose above 300,000 on Wednesday. The fourth health minister in President Jair Bolsonaro’s government has now announced this on his first working day.
The minister also announced that 1 million corona vaccinations per day would soon be administered in the South American country.
Brazil is the hardest-hit country after the United States, both in terms of infections and in terms of the death toll. The country is responsible for about a quarter of the global number of deaths from the coronavirus. The outbreak in Brazil is currently worse than ever due to a highly contagious mutant variant, a lack of federal health measures and a faltering rollout of the vaccination program.
The severity of the epidemic at the present moment is also putting growing pressure on the government of right-wing populist President Bolsonaro, who has never made a secret of his aversion to lockdown measures.
Bolsonaro’s new health minister Marcelo Queiroga took office on Wednesday, one day after Brazil reported another record number of deaths in 24 hours of no less than 3,251. Queiroga announced the government’s new ambitions in the field of vaccination.
The minister also emphasized that vaccinations, masks and keeping a distance are all vital in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Queiroga also said he would focus on science and pledged transparency.