Bolsonaro orders gyms and hair salons to reopen despite Brazil becoming 'global epicentre' of virus

Jair Bolsonaro (R) has come under intense scrutiny for his handling of the pandemic - Alan Santos/AFP
Jair Bolsonaro (R) has come under intense scrutiny for his handling of the pandemic - Alan Santos/AFP

Brazil witnessed another record breaking daily death toll from coronavirus as it cemented its place as an emerging global epicentre for the disease.

The official toll of 881 deaths was second only to the US, while its total of 177,589 cases surpassed Germany and came within touching distance of France.

The total death toll now stands at 12,400, the sixth worst in the world, but experts say the real figure is far higher due to lack of testing and poor record keeping.

The rising numbers came as hard-Right president Jair Bolsonaro has issued a decree to reopen all gyms and hair salons in Latin America's largest economy, even in regions with strict lockdowns in place.

Mr Bolsonaro, who gained the 'Tropical Trump' moniker even before the crisis, has turned Brazil into a pariah in the region and much of the world for playing down the severity of the disease. He referred to the virus as a "little flu" and has been battling with state governors to lift lockdowns before the peak of the infection curve.

His latest decree — classifying gyms, fitness centers, hair salons and barbershops as "essential services", which may remain open during isolation measures — has been branded as "irresponsible" by several of Brazil's states, with governors refusing to obey the president's orders.

Rio de Janeiro governor Wilson Witzel said President Bolsonaro was "edging towards the precipice, and trying to take Brazil with him". In the northeastern state of Maranhão, left-wing governor Flavio Dino reckoned that the president is only looking to "cause trouble".

Jair Bolsonaro adjusts his face mask as he leaves his official residency in Brasilia - ADRIANO MACHADO/Reuters
Jair Bolsonaro adjusts his face mask as he leaves his official residency in Brasilia - ADRIANO MACHADO/Reuters

"He picks fights with everyone, everyone except the coronavirus".

Meanwhile, Mr Bolsonaro claims opening gyms and hair salons will save up to 1 million jobs. "The matter of lives has to be dealt with alongside the matter of jobs".

Brazil's Covid-19 curve shows no signs of flattening. The country has recorded over 177,000 cases so far, and is set to overtake France on 178,000.

Among experts, however, the consensus is that Brazil's Covid-19 figures are grossly under-reported.

The country's rate of testing is ten times lower than in the UK, with many states only diagnosing severe cases. Meanwhile, deaths from undefined respiratory failure have exploded in some cities.

Brazilian researchers have estimated the country's actual Covid-19 case totals to be over 1.6 million.

Elsewhere in Latin America, neighboring countries Argentina and Paraguay have called Brazil's Covid-19 situation a "major threat" to the rest of the continent, arguing that their borders should remain closed for the time being.

In Argentina, strict isolation policies have helped tame the spread of the virus, with the country recording just 6,000 confirmed cases and 305 deaths. In the Brazilian state of São Paulo — with a population comparable to that of Argentina — over ten times as many people have died from Covid-19.

Tuesday also saw a record in daily deaths In Mexico, Latin America's second-largest economy. The country's number of cases and fatalities had been gradually decreasing over last week, but 353 new deaths on Tuesday put Mexicans back on alert.

It also came as Left-wing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador submitted plans to reopen the national economy, beginning with the automotive sector.

Back in Brazil, president Mr Bolsonaro is facing his own problems, unrelated to Covid-19. Having been placed under formal investigation for allegations of meddling with Brazil's federal police, video footage from an April cabinet meeting was shown to members of the Supreme Court, in which Mr Bolsonaro reportedly promises to fire the head of the force in Rio de Janeiro.

The probe was launched after former Justice Minister Sergio Moro resigned from the cabinet, alleging that Mr Bolsonaro intended to appoint one of his allies to the head of the federal police as two of his sons were under investigation for links to hitmen and fake news platforms, respectively.