Brazil: New health minister sworn in amid ‘dangerous’ virus surge

Marcelo Queiroga is fourth health minister in hard-hit South American nation since start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, under pressure over his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic amid a recent surge in cases and deaths, has formally confirmed his new health minister after days of uncertainty. Bolsonaro, a coronavirus sceptic who has eschewed public health restrictions and lockdowns, signed a decree on Tuesday installing cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as health minister. Queiroga replaces army general Eduardo Pazuello, who was criticised for lacking any public health experience, to become Brazil’s fourth health minister since the start of the pandemic.