Today, concern for the government as two former Health Ministers give depositions to the Senate’s Covid hearings committee. Brazil pulls out of a maritime transportation deal with its neighbors. With the Tokyo Olympics approaching, Brazil’s athletes cut in line for vaccines.
Two ex-Health Ministers take the stand today in Covid inquiry
The Senate’s Covid hearings committee will begin its highly-anticipated week of depositions, questioning former Health Ministers Luiz Henrique Mandetta and Nelson Teich today. The duo led Brazil’s initial pandemic response between late February 2020 (when the coronavirus was first spotted in the country) and mid-May 2020 (when Mr. Teich resigned). Each is expected to face questions for around five hours.
Why it matters. Members of the inquiry will try to assess the level of President Jair Bolsonaro’s political interference in the Health Ministry, especially with regard to vaccine negotiations and the administration of the so-called “early treatment” for Covid-19 — a cocktail of drugs such as chloroquine and ivermectin, with no proven efficacy against the virus.
- Chloroquine was the bane of both Messrs. Mandetta and Teich. The former was fired after being unwilling to endorse the antimalarial drug, while Mr. Teich lasted less than a month in office...