The Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, has become known worldwide for downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, refusing to close down the country or enact any restrictions. While there are arguments for and against this method of dealing with the virus, this nonchalant attitude had severe repercussions on medical workers. Nurses and doctors were not given proper personal protection equipment (PPE), even those working the epicenters of the pandemic, Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. As a result a reported 114 doctors and at least 157 nurses have died from exposure to COVID-19. This is higher than the death rate of nurses in the USA and, per the International Council of Nurses, makes them the country with the highest reported nurse deaths.
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