In Brazil, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro abruptly fired Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta Thursday, after Mandetta repeatedly urged Brazilians to practice social distancing measures. Bolsonaro, who is a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, has dismissed COVID-19 as a “fantasy” and a “little flu.” Bolsonaro has repeatedly ignored stay-at-home orders issued by Brazilian governors, joining political rallies and shaking hands with constituents. At his final press briefing Thursday, Mandetta warned the coronavirus will continue to claim lives.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta: “Don’t think that we are going to escape a sharp rise in cases of this disease. The health system is not yet prepared for a surge of cases.”

Nearly 9 out of 10 beds in Rio de Janeiro’s public emergency facilities are already full — even though coronavirus cases aren’t expected to peak until May or June.