What Bolsonaro said as Brazil's coronavirus cases climbed - CNN

When the lethal virus first began to spread in China in February, Bolsonaro showed clear concern about its threat: He only grudgingly agreed to repatriate Brazilian citizens from the then-epicenter, Hubei province, reportedly worrying that they would put the rest of the country at risk.

Brazil's domestic saga with the virus officially began on March 5, with an announcement by the Health Ministry that "the national scenario has changed." A total of eight cases in Sao Paulo reported over 10 days had shown that the virus was no longer an import -- community spread was underway.

But the economy has to function because we can't have a wave of unemployment."

This would become the argument that the outspoken business-first President has consistently repeated, even as the coronavirus crisis radically evolved around him: that the economy cannot be sacrificed for the sake of public health.

The first death

Under Brazil's federal system, state and city officials wield the power to implement regional measures, while the national government oversees broader issues.

In March, Bolsonaro's government did its part to stave off the coronavirus: It closed Brazil to the outside world by closing most land borders and barring foreigners from entry via international flights.

On March 17, health officials in Sao Paulo confirmed the country's first coronavirus death, a 62-year-old man who had traveled to Italy.

The health ministry also announced that it would register 5 million healthcare professionals to relocate to the worst-hit states to bolster public healthcare systems.

But his personal words and actions continued to belie his government's work.

The country passed 1,000 deaths on April 10.

5,000 deaths

A series of challenging weeks followed for Brazil's health ministry: On April 16, after weeks of infighting and threats, Bolsonaro fired his health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta.

The outgoing minister had been one of Brazil's biggest proponents of social isolation, supporting governors' decisions to shut down schools and businesses.

In a press conference after Mandetta's departure, Bolsonaro praised his work, but insisted the economy and health at this moment should be treated like two illnesses.

"You can't treat one and ignore the other," he said, adding that he had already discussed the need to "gradually open up" with incoming minister Nelson Teich.

On April 28, Bolsonaro expanded the definition of essential businesses, adding retail, food services, transportation, auto repair shops, and storage businesses to the list.

Two days later, Brazil's coronavirus death toll crossed 10,000.

The next week, Bolsonaro again pried open the notion of essential services, this time adding beauty salons, barber shops and gyms.

"This story about lockdown, closing everything, that is not the path.

...That is the path to failure, to breaking Brazil," he told journalists on May 14 -- the same day that he signed a decree exempting public officials from liability for their responses to the pandemic unless an action had an "elevated degree of negligence, imprudence or malpractice."

The next day, the new Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned.

I don't know."

15,000 deaths

After having two medical experts at the top of the health ministry and no end to the crisis in sight, Bolsonaro changed tack.

He chose Eduardo Pazuello -- a military general with no background in medicine or public health -- to lead the nation's fight against the coronavirus as the interim minister.

Brazil's death toll surpassed 15,000 on May 16.

The next day, Brazil surpassed the UK to become the country with the third highest number of cases in the world.

20,000 deaths

Within days, Brazil rose again in the grim rankings, overtaking hard-hit Russia with more confirmed coronavirus cases than any country in the world, except the US.

By May 21, 20,000 people had died.

That night, when Bolsonaro stopped at a hot dog cart in Brasilia his entourage attracted a mix of supporters and angry protestors.

"Killer!" one woman could be heard shouting in the video, captured by local media.

25,000 deaths

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry raised Brazil's national death toll to 25,598.

Throughout recent months, the federal government's focus on protecting the economy first has largely been borne out with measures to relieve businesses and inject cash into the economy.