"Tropical Trump" role in Brazil's COVID-19 spike

With 1.1 million infected and over 50 thousand dead, Brazil is facing a dramatic coronavirus emergency whose repercussions are enormous, in terms of health, but also economically and politically. But what are the responsibilities of President Jair Bolsonaro? We asked an Italian entrepreneur who lives in the state of Bahia.

I medici di San Paolo del Brasile hanno manifestato domenica scorsa a Praca Roosevelt Source: AAP Image/ Lincon Zarbietti / AGIF (via AP)

Between government reshuffles (the last of which saw a former soap opera actor appointed to the Culture Department), denialist attitudes and questionable decisions, Brazil is facing an unprecedented emergency from COVID-19. Last week the country recorded a spike in infections in a single day and to date has 1.1 million cases, while the death toll has exceeded 50,700. The large population centres and the indigenous communities of the Amazon are particularly affected, amid a shortage of facilities and the lack of oxygen.

Florestano Tavernier, 48enne napoletano, vive a Lençóis, nello stato brasiliano di Bahia, con la sua famiglia Source: Supplied

Some are pointing the finger at Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who, like Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, underestimated the extent of COVID-19. What future lies ahead for the largest country on the continent in terms of health, economics and public order? Florestano Tavernier, an entrepreneur of Neapolitan origin who lives in Lençóis, a small tourist center in the state of Bahia, where - incredibly - there are no known infections, reports.