By GENALYN KABILING
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has a “devil-may-care attitude” like that of United States President Donald Trump in addressing the coronavirus pandemic, President Duterte said early Wednesday.
The President described the two leaders as “brave” for their desire to keep their country’s economies open despite the “rampaging” pandemic.
Bolsonaro earlier tested positive for the coronavirus after reportedly downplaying the severity of the viral illness and flouting health precautions such as social distancing.
“Let me stress that whether we open a modified lockdown or we totally open it in wild abandon kagaya ng America pati Brazil, well ang mga presidente doon medyo matatapang. May pera itong si Bolsonaro,” Duterte said in his public address.
“Medyo may pagka ano rin may pagka-Trump and devil-may-care- attitude,” he said.
The United States has the highest number of coronavirus infections at 2.9 million cases and 131,455 deaths, followed by Brazil with 1.6 million infections and 66,741 deaths based on the latest global tracking by Johns Hopkins University.
As of July 7, the country has 47,873 coronavirus cases with 12,386 recoveries and 1,309 deaths.
Unlike the two countries, Duterte said the Philippines, being poor, must be circumspect in opening the entire economy to avoid the risk of more coronavirus infections. He noted that other countries suffered a “spike” in coronavirus cases after allowing the resumption of their economic activities.
“Mahirap tayo. Hindi tayo puwedeng sumugal. I cannot follow the example of other countries because as experience has shown, there were a lot of countries also opening up. And first was Japan, then Korea, followed by China, and the United States,” he said.
As he read the day’s coronavirus cases, the President welcomed the data that more people are recovering from the illness. The country’s death rate is “quite small” compared to the number of recoveries, he added.
The President also appealed anew to the public to observe health precautions to avoid getting sick.
“All I am asking is that you obey the government because the government is very much interested that you don’t get sick. Or if you get sick, that you get well and would live to grow, to see your children grow, and your grandchildren to love,” he said.
