Brazil’s next health minister says he will follow Bolsonaro plan

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is under pressure for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as cases and deaths surge.

Brazil’s next health minister – the country’s fourth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – has said he intends to continue the work of his predecessor in implementing far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s policies. Bolsonaro, who faces mounting pressure and public anger over his government’s handling of the crisis, announced on Monday that cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga would take up the post of health minister. Brazil has seen a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths in recent weeks, recording over 11.5 million COVID-19 infections and more than 279,000 coronavirus-related deaths to date, according to Johns Hopkins University data – the second highest totals in the world.