Brazils president bolsonaro exempts churches from quarantine

You're referring to the controversy surrounding Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro's decision to exempt churches from quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, Bolsonaro issued a decree that exempted churches and other places of worship from the quarantine measures implemented by the government to slow the spread of the virus. The decree was met with widespread criticism from health experts, scientists, and many Brazilians, who argued that it was a reckless decision that could lead to further spread of the virus.

The decision was seen as a blow to the country's efforts to contain the pandemic, which had already claimed thousands of lives in Brazil. Many experts warned that allowing churches to remain open could lead to increased transmission of the virus, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

The Catholic Church, which is the largest Christian denomination in Brazil, initially supported the government's decision, but later changed its stance and called for churches to be closed to prevent the spread of the virus.

Bolsonaro's decision was also criticized by many international leaders and organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), which urged countries to take a science-based approach to combating the pandemic.

In the end, the Brazilian government was forced to backtrack on its decision, and churches were eventually closed as part of the country's quarantine measures. However, the controversy surrounding Bolsonaro's decision highlighted the challenges of balancing individual freedoms with public health concerns during a pandemic.