Brazil marked 50 days without the need of an official Wellness Minister on Saturday, as the coronavirus pandemic that has contaminated extra than 1.5 million of its citizens, and killed at least 63,000, continues to grip the state.

The place has been temporarily stuffed by Military Common Eduardo Pazzuello, who has no health care expertise, since the final Health Minister, Nelson Teich, stop on May well 15.

Teich, who invested significantly less than a thirty day period in business office, remaining amid criticism from President Jair Bolsonaro that he was “too timid in the force to reopen the economic climate and to advocate for the use of chloroquine.” Teich did not present a motive for his resignation.

Teich’s predecesor, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who advocated for social distancing measures and the use of masks was fired by Bolsonaro. 

Bolsonaro, who commonly defies social distancing rules suggested by most wellness gurus and has dismissed the virus as “a minimal flu,” has been commonly criticized for downplaying the severity of the virus. 

On Friday, Bolsonaro vetoed components of a regulation that mandates donning facial area masks in community in the course of the pandemic. The use of masks in browsing malls, stores, religious temples, educational establishments and other shut spots the place folks obtain will no lengthier be required, but specific states and municipalities can implement people actions. 

Brazil has the 2nd best number coronavirus cases and fatalities globally just after the US.