Brazil’s president fires health minister in dispute over coronavirus strategy

Move by Bolsonaro, who has downplayed Covid-19, has potential to cause a major public revolt

 Brazil’s health minister Luiz Henrique  Mandetta: he  has defended social isolation, while the president insists the impact of the pandemic on Brazil’s struggling economy is more important than loss of life. Photograph:  Reuters

Brazil’s health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta: he has defended social isolation, while the president insists the impact of the pandemic on Brazil’s struggling economy is more important than loss of life. Photograph: Reuters

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has sacked his popular health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta after a weeks-long standoff between the two men over radically different views of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have just received notice of my dismissal from the president Jair Bolsonaro. I would like to say thank you for the opportunity that was given to me to manage our health service and to plan our fight against the coronavirus epidemic, this great challenge that our health system is about to face,” Mr Mandetta tweeted on Thursday.

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