BOLSONARO FREES CHURCHES FROM LOCKDOWN

BRASILIA Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday exempted churches from coronavirus lockdowns by classifying religious activity as an essential service, heeding requests from evangelical leaders who are an important constituency for him.

Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist, has said publicly that churches should remain open because they are “the last shelter” for many people.

His executive decree, published Thursday, contradicts measures taken by state governors and city mayors to ban religious assemblies along with non-essential commercial activities to contain the spread of the virus.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil have quadrupled in less than a week to 2,433, according to Health Ministry data, with 57 deaths related to COVID-19.

Bolsonaro is facing mounting criticism for disregarding the warnings of experts and playing down the threat of the virus as the death toll rises in Brazil’s largest cities.