Fauci warns Congress that new US coronavirus cases could rise to 100,000 a day
A Brazilian federal judge overturned an order Tuesday that mandated President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a mask in public or face a fine.
Bolsonaro appealed to the federal court to avoid being obliged to wear face masks in public on Friday.
The court order given on June 26 by judge Renato Borelli — of the 9th Federal Civil Court of the Federal District — attested a decree issued on April 30 by the Federal District government.
The decree established that the use of face masks became mandatory as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Bolsonaro would have faced fines of 2,000 reals a day ($366) if he breached the order.
Judge Daniele Maranhão Costa, of the Federal Regional Court, said a legal judgement, or injunction, was not appropriate in this case against Bolsonaro. The judge said the judiciary is not the appropriate place to resolve that sort of matter.
“I recognize the absence of a need to file a lawsuit of origin for the purpose of compelling citizens to wear masks, regardless of the position they occupy in the state administration,” Costa said.
Bolsonaro took to the streets near the Federal District without protective equipment several times before the mask order was overturned.