Panic over coronavirus not justified, says Brazil vice-president

Brazil’s acting President Hamilton Mourão said today (Mar. 9) that the global crisis stemming from the coronavirus is temporary, adding that people’s “panic” over the dissemination of the virus across the world does not match the facts. In Brazil, 25 cases have been confirmed and 664 are seen as suspected. Throughout the world, confirmed cases surpass 111 thousand, with the death toll standing at 3.8 thousand.

“It’s not faring so well, but it’s a temporary issue. It’s the first epidemic on the internet, so that’s why there’s been a panic not compatible with reality, even though deaths have been reported. Let’s just look at how people died of dengue fever in Brazil this year, and no one made any comments,” said the vice-president, who is acting as president as Jair Bolsonaro is currently on an official trip to the US.

Stock exchanged across the globe have declined on Monday, shaken by the coronavirus epidemic and by the reduction in oil prices. In the vice-president’s view, markets will restore their balance right after China’s situation improves.

“The economic activity is on the wane because people are no longer working, especially in countries that are the drivers of the world’s economy, like China. It’s a normal situation, temporary. I believe the situation in China should improve in two months’ time, and markets will once again be balanced,” he stated.