Brazil currently has 246,000 confirmed cases, over 16,000 deaths, surpassed Spain and Italy and now becomes the country with the third-largest number of COVID-19 cases in the world.

Since May 13 the country has registered over 10,000 new cases each day. On May 15, Brazil registered over 15,000 new cases in one night and 14,000 more the next day. Despite the numbers, President Bolsonaro still claims that the coronavirus is just a "little flu".

Brazil is now the epicentre of infections in the Latin American region.

"Brazil will come back Stronger" - Bolsonaro

Everyday, supporters of the President have joined forces to protest the country's lockdown and even more are showing up on weekends. Donning their Bolsonaro t-shirts and banners denouncing congress, demonstrators continue to defy stay-at-home orders and are encouraged by Bolsonaro's presence at the said gathering.

Majority of the protesters who have attended are members of the group who call themselves the "300 of Brazil". They have been camping outside the presidential office, in full support of their president. The "300 of Brazil" is financially supported by pro-Bolsonaro businessmen and aims to follow Ukraine's footsteps. This is in reference to the fascist led uprising in 2014 against the former Soviet Republic.

Protesters have gathered in both Sao Paulo and Brasilia in support of the president to put further pressure on local governments to lift restraints placed on economic activity and loosen stay at home orders. Several people demanded the closure of Congress and some have cried for mass distribution of the drug Chloroquine which was branded by Bolsonaro as a coronavirus treatment even if studies have already proven for it to be ineffective.

Several states and cities have already extended their lockdown measures and urged people to stay at home. The president, however, is doing the exact opposite and is increasing public appearance in rallies to reopen the economy and allow people to return to work.

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Opening the economy

Although the city of Brasilia has seen a drop in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, experts have claimed that it is still too early to reopen the economy. Other states are still experiencing a rise in cases. One alarming study shows that there were 400 positive cases from the Indigenous people confirming that the virus might have already infected places with little or no healthcare access.

This strike wave is joined by several Brazilian workers protesting against job loss and pay cuts and that the government is forcing them to choose between death by COVID-19 or by starvation. The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil is believed to be brought into the country by the elite from their travels to Europe, and is now ravaging the country's poor, pushing them further into desolation.

In less than two months, Brazil has seen two health ministers leave their posts. Last month, Bolsonaro fired his health minister, Luiz Mandetta after his alleged failure in responding to the pandemic.

Just a few days ago newly appointed health minister Nelson Teich resigned from his post citing Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic and his reason for leaving.