Brazil

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday called for the reopening of the country’s borders, as he pushes to restart South America’s largest economy, but conceded he may be blamed if the new coronavirus outbreak worsens as a result.

Bolsonaro fired his health minister on Thursday after clashing with him over lockdown measures, which the president argues are overly damaging to the economy and should be rolled back.

Rio De Janeiro, Apr 17 (AP) Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, whose dismissive stance toward the COVID-19 pandemic has angered many health experts, fired his popular health minister following a series of disagreements over the proper response to contain the virus' spread in South America's most populous country.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta, an orthopedist, had garnered support for his handling of the pandemic that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors, even drawing comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Donald Trump's top virus expert.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, whose dismissive stance toward the COVID-19 pandemic has angered many health experts, fired his popular health minister following a series of disagreements over the proper response to contain the virus’ spread in South America’s most populous country.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta, an orthopedist, had garnered support for his handling of the pandemic that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors, even drawing comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top virus expert.

SAO PAULO (AP) — After a heated confrontation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last month over his lackadaisical approach to the coronavirus, governors in the South American country have since pulled back, wary of losing vital federal aid in the efforts to control COVID-19.

That strategy is no longer working for the leader of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, the country’s economic engine and the epicenter of the nation’s virus outbreak. Gov. João Doria has made it clear he’s done biting his tongue.

BRASILIA, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 99-year-old World War II veteran in Brazil was released from hospital with military honours on Tuesday after recovering from COVID-19.

Second Lieutenant Ermando Piveta, who served in the Brazilian artillery in Africa during World War II, was brought out of the Armed Forces Hospital in Brasilia to a burst of trumpet music and applause.

Wearing an army-green side cap, he raised his arms in the air as he left the hospital after eight days as a patient.

BRASILIA, Apr 14 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Brazil’s total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 23,430, and the death toll climbed to 1,328, for a mortality rate of 5.7 percent, the Health Ministry said, on Monday.

The total figures rose after 1,261 new infections were detected in the past 24 hours, and 105 more people died.

The epicentre of Brazil’s outbreak continues to be the southeast state of Sao Paulo, followed by the states of Rio de Janeiro, Ceara, Amazonas, Pernambuco and Minas Gerais.

According to authorities, Brazil has 111 infections per million inhabitants.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his health minister are in open conflict over the country’s coronavirus response, leading many to worry that the far-right leader could soon fire the official who has played a major role in containing the outbreak.

BRASILIA, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil said a first case of COVID-19 had been detected among the Yanomami people, an Amazon indigenous group known for its remoteness and its vulnerability to foreign diseases.

“Today we confirmed a case (of the virus) among the Yanomami, which is very worrying,” Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told a news conference.

“We have to be triply cautious with (indigenous) communities, especially the ones that have very little contact with the outside world.”

BRASILIA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US ambassador to Brazil denied reports that the US government took over Chinese supplies of medical equipment that were ordered by Brazil to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said last week China had ditched some Brazilian equipment orders when the US government sent more than 20 cargo planes to the country to buy the same products.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 6 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Brazil’s Health Ministry said, the country’s death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 486, as 11,130 people tested positive to the disease.

In the past 24 hours, 54 patients died, up 12.5 percent compared with the day before, and 852 new infections were detected, placing the mortality rate at 4.4 percent, said the authorities.

Southeast Brazil, the country’s most populous region, registered 60 percent of the cases (6,678) and 72.2 percent of the deaths (351).