As deaths surpass 260,000, critics slam the president’s remarks as the country faces worsening crisis.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked outrage by telling citizens to stop “whining” over the coronavirus outbreak that has claimed more than 260,000 lives in the country. His controversial comments were made on Thursday in Goiás, as the Covid-19 situation in Brazil continues to worsen.
“Stop all this fussing and whining. How long are you going to keep on crying?” Bolsonaro declared to supporters, despite the nation grappling with a rapidly rising death toll and overburdened healthcare systems. In the state of Goiás alone, nearly 9,000 people have succumbed to the virus.
The nation’s daily death toll has now surpassed that of the United States, and intensive care units are nearing full capacity. Meanwhile, vaccination efforts remain sluggish, and health experts predict the number of deaths could rise even further, potentially exceeding 3,000 daily in the weeks ahead.
Bolsonaro’s dismissive attitude toward the crisis has drawn fierce criticism, with many calling him an “incurable sociopath” for downplaying the severity of the pandemic as it continues to devastate the country.
