Brazil President Bolsonaro won't take COVID vaccine, says mask 'taboo' will fall someday

Stroking ar controversy amid COVID-19 pandemic, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in a statement brocasted live over multiple social media platforms on Thursday said that he will t take a Covid-19 vaccine. He h also called use of masks to limit spre of disease “ last taboo to fall.” “I tell you; I will t take (any vaccine). It is my right and I am sure that Congress will t create difficulties for whoever doesn't want to take a vaccine," he said. 

This was latest in a long list of controversial statements on COVID-19 pandemic from Bolsonaro, who has condemned "hysteria" around Coronavirus by comparing  dely virus to a "little flu". He h also asserted that immune systems of Brazilians were so strong, y could swim in raw sew and "t catch a thing."

Bolsoari said, "If it is effective, lasting, reliable, whoever doesn't take it will be doing harm only to himself, and who takes vaccine will t be infected. re's thing to worry about."

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When Jair Bolsonaro sparked controversy with statements on COVID-19

Earlier, Jair Bolsonaro, on many occasions, h expressed his skepticism over effectiveness of wearing a mask because according to him, re is very little conclusive evidence of effectiveness of masks in stemming transmission of COVID-19. Joking on Twitter, President h said that Brazilians do t need a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes widely available; however, vaccine for his dog would be required.

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Currently, Brazil is third worst-affected country by COVID-19 after USA  and India. Despite fact that Brazil has second-highest number of Coronavirus deaths in world, Bolsonaro has for months played down seriousness of pandemic. 

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Coronavirus outbreak in Brazil 

As world continues to grapple with COVID-19, Brazil so far has recorded over 6,238,350 positive cases, out of which 171,998 people have scumbbed to infection, while 5,536,524 have successfuly recovered from virus. Currently, total number of active cases in country is 529,828. 

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