Bolsonaro, Health Minister deny rift and recommend “Covid-19 cocktail”

During a live social media broadcast, President Jair Bolsonaro and Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello recommended the use of a “Covid-19 cocktail” made out of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and anti-worms medicine nitazoxanide — none of which have been proven to be effective against the coronavirus.

Mr. Pazuello, who has been diagnosed himself with Covid-19, said he took the cocktail and is now feeling “as good as new.”

“This is yet another concrete case that hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and Anita (the commercial name of nitazoxanide) work,” said Mr. Bolsonaro.

Earlier this week, the president opposed the distribution of a potential vaccine being developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, saying he wouldn’t turn Brazilians into “guinea pigs.” However, he has touted the effectiveness of a number of drugs against Covid-19, despite a lack of evidence. Moreover, the National Health Council has already warned about potentially dangerous side effects of hydroxychloroquine.

The vaccine issue has put Messrs. Pazuello and Bolsonaro on a collision course this week, with the president slamming an agreement by the Health Ministry to purchase 46 million doses of the Chinese vaccine. But the two denied the existence of a rift. “It’s that simple: one gives the orders, the other follows them,” said the minister.

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