Brazilian Senate opens inquiry into Bolsonaro’s COVID handling

Investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro comes as Brazil is set to surpass 400,000 coronavirus deaths this week.

Brazil’s Senate has opened its inquiry into President Jair Bolsonaro‘s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the South American country rapidly approaches the sombre milestone of 400,000 coronavirus-related deaths. The government of Bolsonaro, a far-right COVID-19 sceptic who has downplayed the virus and rebuffed efforts to enact public health restrictions, is facing widespread criticism for Brazil’s high coronavirus death toll and infection rates. More than 391,000 people have died in Brazil – the second highest death toll after the United States – while at least 14.3 million cases have been recorded to date, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.