Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro led a motorcade of his supporters despite the continuing rise in COVID cases in the country. Al Jazeera reported that the motorcade happened on Sunday, as the president remained against the face coverings.

The motorcade happened days after President Jair Bolsonaro was fined in the state of Maranhão after he neglected to wear his masks during an event in the state on Friday. The Brazilian president continued to gather criticisms from detractors in the country due to his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and refusal to wear face masks.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Leads Motorcade

On Sunday, the President joined thousands of his supporters in Rio de Janeiro. Al Jazeera noted that about 10,000 motorcyclists took part in the rally organized by one of the friends of the Brazilian president.

"My army will never go into the streets to force you to stay home," said the president, who was also a former army captain. Bolsonaro also slammed the officials of the country, specifically the mayors and governors saying that the officials imposed "confinement or curfews: without any scientific proof."

"We are ready to take all the measures necessary to guarantee your [Brazilians] freedom," President Bolsonaro added.

The motorcyclists who took part in the rally on Sunday were reported to travel at least 25 miles along the city's Ipanema and Copacobana beaches. Bolsonaro was reported to step down from his motorcycle on Flamengo beach and then greeted the crowd.

"He represents freedom, order, and progress, and the end of corruption," said one of the motorcyclists with The Guardian who expressed support to the Brazilian president. Furthermore, other motorcyclists said that they had come from across the country to support and endorse Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil COVID Cases Continues to Surge

The motorcycle rally that was attended by President Jair Bolsonaro happened as the country surpasses 16 million COVID cases. La Prensa Latina Media noted that on the same day of the motorcycle rally, the country has surpassed its cases and is nearing 450,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The Health Ministry of Brazil also confirmed with La Prensa Latina Media that the infection curve of the country has been climbing in the recent weeks, and the daily average number of positive cases in the last seven days remained at 65,111. Meanwhile, the death rate in the country has reduced to an average of 1,902 per day over the last seven days. On April 13, more than 3,000 deaths per day were recorded in the course of seven days.

However, Al Jazeera noted that Jair Bolsonaro continues to discard the need for public health measures in addressing the coronavirus in Brazil. La Prensa Latina Media noted that the Brazilian president was reported to appear without face coverings and attracted large crowds - like the motorcade - despite the prohibition of gatherings.

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