Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro sentenced for not wearing a mask

Cent eight dollars, it is the amount of the fine which was imposed on Jair Bolsonaro for not wearing the mask. The Brazilian president took part on Saturday in a demonstration of bikers – called “Accelerate for Christ” – in the state of Sao Paulo and did not respect any health measures. He even took the head of the procession, with his helmet open and, therefore, without a mask.

São Paulo state authorities said they fined Jair Bolsonaro, his son Eduardo, a congressman, and Minister of Infrastructure Tarcisio Gomes, 552 reais (about $ 108) for failing to not to have worn a mask and not to have respected the measures of social distancing during the rally. The Brazilian presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Covid-19 has killed nearly 485,000 people in Brazil

Jair Bolsonaro, who called for rallies across Brazil ahead of next year’s presidential election, ignored warnings from São Paulo governor João Doria, a political rival, who said that the president would be fined if he did not obey state laws.

Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly opposed João Doria and other governors over measures imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 485,000 lives in Brazil.

The president regularly criticizes containment measures and the wearing of masks, and promotes drugs such as chloroquine, as studies show they are ineffective. Addressing a crowd of flag-waving supporters, Jair Bolsonaro again protested against wearing the mask.

The president said people who have been vaccinated should not have to wear a mask. “It is impossible for a vaccinated person to transmit the virus,” he said. There is no scientific consensus on whether people vaccinated can be contagious.