Brazil has 'Bolsonaro-virus', says Governor

After a heated confrontation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last month over his approach to the coronavirus, governors in the South American country have since pulled back, wary of losing vital federal aid in the efforts to control the virus.

On Wednesday however, Governor of São Paulo João Doria made it clear he's done biting his tongue.

“We’re fighting against the coronavirus and against the ‘Bolsonaro-virus,’” Doria said in an interview with The Associated Press.

São Paulo has reported 11,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and almost 800 deaths, the highest in the country.

As governor, Doria has become one of the nation’s foremost advocates of strong restrictions on daily life to contain the virus.

That has put him squarely in Bolsonaro’s line of fire.

The president has argued that broad shutdown measures would wreck the economy. He is one of very few heads of state still scoffing at the virus, which he has repeatedly called “a little flu".

Once an ally of the president, Doria is now one of the strongest opponents to Bolsonaro’s handling of the pandemic.

He said he is receiving daily threats from supporters of the president and has had to increase security for his wife and send his children to live elsewhere.