Governor Wilson Witzel holds a cabinet meeting. Photo: Eliane Carvalho/FP
The Rio de Janeiro state government extended social isolation measures until June 5, with only essential services allowed to operate in the meantime. As of Monday, the state had recorded 5,462 Covid-19 deaths and 54,530 total cases.
Rio de Janeiro has been one of the worst-performing states in the fight against Covid-19, having the country’s fourth-highest death rate of 330 per 1 million people. Governor Wilson Witzel is suspected of heading a criminal ring to embezzle funds earmarked to fight the pandemic. He and his wife, lawyer Helena Witzel, allegedly accepted kickbacks from companies hired to build field hospitals in the state — overpricing almost every single item.
The state’s former deputy Health secretary, Gabriell Neves, was arrested for his alleged participation in the scheme.
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