Brazil in crisis as COVID deaths soar and military officers resign in protest

Brasilia, April 1 (RHC)-- Brazil is facing a mounting public health and political crisis.  On Tuesday, Brazil recorded nearly 3,800 new COVID-19 deaths — its highest daily death toll yet. 

Meanwhile, the heads of Brazil’s Army, Navy and Air Force all quit in an unprecedented move a day after Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro ousted his defense minister as part of a broader Cabinet shakeup. 

The developments have alarmed many in Brazil who believe Bolsonaro, who is a former Army captain, will install ultra-loyalists to the military posts to consolidate his power ahead of next year’s election, when he is expected to be challenged by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.