Coronavirus

Santa Catarina Governor: “The government is being vilified”

The Santa Catarina government has been under scrutiny since an investigative report by The Intercept Brasil uncovered a purchase of 200 ventilators for BRL 33 million (USD 5.76 million) — meaning that the state paid twice as much for each unit than what the federal government paid for the same equipment. If that wasn’t enough, the ventilators were never delivered–– leading to the firing of the state's top health official. On Friday, however, the governor justified the purchase by claiming that the purchase was made during “the days of true desperation,” but added that his government “is being vilified” for its decisions. Earlier this week, The Brazilian Report showed how Covid-19 cases have tripled in Santa Catarina since the government decided to reopen the economy. As of this Saturday, the state had reported a total of 3,372 confirmed cases and 64 deaths.
Santa Catarina Governor Carlos Moisés. Photo: Alesc

The Santa Catarina government has been under scrutiny since an investigative report by The Intercept Brasil uncovered a purchase of 200 ventilators for BRL 33 million (USD 5.76 million) — meaning that the state paid twice as much for each unit than what the federal government paid for the same equipment.

If that wasn’t enough, the ventilators were never delivered–– leading to the firing of the state’s top health official. On Friday, however, the governor justified the purchase by claiming that the purchase was made during “the days of true desperation,” but added that his government “is being vilified” for its decisions.

Earlier this week, The Brazilian Report showed how Covid-19 cases have tripled in Santa Catarina since the government decided to reopen the economy. As of this Saturday, the state had reported a total of 3,372 confirmed cases and 64 deaths.