Brazil's health minister sacked by president

04:27, April 17, 2020

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  New Brazil health minister aims to spare economy from virus

  A man walks past a graffiti of Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro wearing a protective mask during the new coronavirus outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (Photo: AP)Brazil’s new health minister was sworn into office on Friday, after pledging to work not only to save lives from the new coronavirus, but also to spare the economy.Nelson Teich, an oncologist, replaced the prior minister who had garnered support for his handling of the pandemic that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors. Those measures had drawn the ire of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has said shutting down the economy would cause more damage than confining only high-risk Brazilians. He has also repeatedly described the virus as a “little flu,” and touted the yet-unproven efficacy of an anti-malarial drug.“Life is priceless, but the economy and employment need to return to normality,” Bolsonaro said at a press conference on Thursday, adding that doesn’t mean doing so as fast as possible.Teich’s career makes clear his trajectory has been focused on the business side of medicine. He was founder and president of a group of oncology clinics, and more recently has worked as senior health care consultant at a medical services company that bears his name, according to his LinkedIn page. He also has a Master’s degree in health economics, Master in Business Administration and has done a management course for company owners and presidents at Harvard University’s business school.Local media had reported for weeks that Bolsonaro favored two other people for the health minister post, both of whom were critics of broad isolation measures and cheerleaders of the use of chloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients. One was lawmaker Osmar Terra who, according to fact-checking organization Aos Fatos, is the Brazilian congressman who spreads the most fake news about COVID-19 on social media.Teich became the nominee after a series of conversations that the pre...

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  Israel's health minister recovers from COVID-19

  In this Monday, March 2, 2020 photo, Israels Health Minister Yaakov Litzman delivers a statement as he visits a makeshift tent for quarantined coronavirus voters in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo: AP)JERUSALEM, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Israels Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman and his wife have recovered from COVID-19, the states Ministry of Health announced Monday."This was a good opportunity for me to become personally aware of the dedicated work of our precious medical teams. I thank everyone who was interested in my health and wished me well," said Litzman.The minister and his wife were tested positive on April 2 and were treated at home since then, as their condition was mild.Following Litzmans positive diagnosis, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered a seven-day home quarantine after meeting with him several times.During his quarantine period, Netanyahu was tested negative for the virus."I am pleased to see the recovery of Minister Litzman and his wife Chava from the coronavirus disease. We continue to work together to save the lives of Israels citizens," said Netanyahu.

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  Australia makes progress in COVID-19 control: health minister

  CANBERRA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia continues to make progress in the fight against COVID-19, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Wednesday.As of Wednesday morning there have been 6,647 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, an increase of 0.3 percent from 6,625 on Tuesday morning.The number of cases has increased by less than 0.5 percent for three consecutive days."So, all of that means, as a country, we are making huge progress," Hunt told Seven Network television on Wednesday morning."All of that gives us the ability to take these steps forward on that road out."In a later appearance on Sky News Hunt confirmed that Australias death toll has risen to 74."But these lives lost remind us of the profound task thats still in front of us," Hunt said.The cabinet and state and territory leaders are set to meet in May to discuss about restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the virus.Nick Coatsworth, Australias deputy chief medical officer, said on Wednesday that "all range of options" for easing restrictions would be on the table if Australia continues to flatten the curve of infections."It does depend, of course, as you have said in your questions, what happens in the next three weeks. But all range of options are on the table," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television."Businesses and individuals need to prepare, though, that physical distance from one another will need to keep going."Great hand hygiene and cough etiquette will need to keep going, because we wont have a vaccine. So, whilst some restrictions may be lifted, the way we behave has to stay the same."(Photo: Agencies)