Brazilian President Bolsonaro Meets Minister Of Health Eduardo Pazuello Who Is Positive For COVID-19 Without A Mask

Presiden Brasil Jair Bolsonaro (Instagram / @ jairmessiasbolsonaro)

JAKARTA - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited Health Minister General Eduardo Pazuello without a mask, even though Eduardo was diagnosed with COVID-19. This was done by Bolsonaro to show that COVID-19 is not as dangerous as the world's worries.

Not only Bolsonaro. Eduardo did not wear a mask during the meeting. The two of them chatted and joked in Pazuello's hotel room.

Bolsonaro also said that no one should be afraid of COVID-19 because the disease can be easily cured with the malaria drug chloroquine. The drug is controversial.

Experts reveal that clinical trials of chloroquine or other drugs related to hydroxychloroquine have shown no significant efficacy for COVID-19 patients. The reasons for the use of the drug for COVID-19 are still controversial.

"This is another concrete case of someone taking chloroquine and it's been successful," said Bolsonaro, quoted by Reuters, Friday, October 23. "It's an alternative, if the doctor prescribes it."

Pazuello, an active Army general, admitted to being exhausted on Sunday, 18 October. But Pazuello remained on duty Monday, 19 October and felt worse that night, with headache and fever.

The next day he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Including Pazuello, nearly half of the 23 members of Bolsonaro's Cabinet are now infected with COVID-19. Bolsonaro and his wife also contracted COVID-19 in July.