Brazil's Botched COVID Response Second only to Trump's

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro is facing the biggest crisis of his presidency after the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force all quit and the country recorded its highest daily Covid-19 death toll.  The unprecedented resignation of the defense chiefs is being seen as a protest at attempts by Mr Bolsonaro to exert undue control over the military.

Bolsonaro's popularity has plummeted over his response to Covid-19.  Nearly 314,000 people have died, with a new daily record of 3,780 set earlier this week.  Worldwide, Brazil has the second highest number of total confirmed COVID-19 cases with more than 12.6 million. Only the United States has had more.

Earlier this month the Brazilian public health institute Fiocruz warned the health system was close to collapse, with more than 80% of intensive care unit beds occupied in most of the country's states.  An epidemiologist in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Dr Pedro Hallal, told the BBC he feared Brazil could become a threat to global public health. 

Bolsonaro has consistently opposed lockdown measures, arguing that the damage to the economy would be worse than the effects of the coronavirus itself.  He has also told Brazilians to "stop whining" about the situation.

Last week, Bolsonaro, who has previously raised doubts about vaccines and defended unproven drugs as treatment, said that he would make 2021 the year of vaccinations. "Very soon we'll resume our normal lives," he said.  So far Brazil has vaccinated only 8% of its population.

The president's popularity has plummeted over his handling of the pandemic, with 43% of Brazilians saying Bolsonaro is to blame for the Covid crisis.  His government is in turmoil-- just two weeks ago,  a new health minister took office - the fourth since the pandemic began.   The new health minister, Marcelo Queiroga, is a cardiologist-- his predecessor was an army officer with no medical training.

A week ago, the defense and foreign ministers resigned, prompting a cabinet reshuffle. The foreign minister was accused of mishandling relations with China, resulting in a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines.  The defense minister clashed with Bolsonaro over the issue of the armed forces' loyalty, which he said should be directed to upholding the constitution rather than supporting the president personally.

Bolsonaro is a divisive figure who has sparked controversy with racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments throughout his time in the public eye.  In 2019, Bolsonaro organized a commemoration of the 1964 coup which put Brazil under military rule for over 20 years.  At least 434 people were killed or disappeared, according to the findings of a 2014 national truth commission.  Bolsonaro defended the ceremonies, saying the aim was to remember the era rather than commemorate military rule itself.