COVID-19 vaccine skeptic Bolsonaro gets a pass at U.N. but not New York restaurants
Unvaccinated heads of state attending the United Nation General Assembly this week may have to settle for a piece of pizza on a sidewalk instead of fine dining at New York's restaurants.
That is how Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro dined on his first night in New York, where no one is allowed into the city's restaurants without proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
The far-right populist is a vaccine skeptic who has bragged about not being vaccinated, saying before he left for New York that his immune system is strong enough to fend off the coronavirus.
Two Cabinet ministers on his delegation posted a photo of Bolsonaro and aides munching on slices of pizza on a New York sidewalk on Sunday night.
Bolsonaro's supporters praised the casual "simplicity" of their leader happy to eat pizza on the street near the Manhattan hotel where he is staying.
Asked by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a meeting on Monday whether he had been vaccinated, Bolsonaro replied: "No. Not yet."
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio appealed to world leaders, "including most notably Bolsonaro from Brazil," to get vaccinated before attending the U.N. gathering in the city.
"If you don't want to be vaccinated, don't bother coming," de Blasio said at a news conference.
Last week, General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid notified the 193-member states that the U.N.'s COVID-19 vaccination honor system will remain in place for presidents, prime ministers and diplomats. They are not required to show proof of immunization.
Some leaders are staying away and sending a video statement instead because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brazil's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on reports a Brazilian diplomat had tested positive in New York.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "We are aware of the reports and are in contact with the Brazilian mission."
Bolsonaro will be the first head of state to address the annual U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday morning.
Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu Writing by Anthony Boadle; editing by Grant McCool
The far-right populist is a vaccine skeptic who has bragged about not being vaccinated, saying before he left for New York that his immune system is strong enough to fend off the coronavirus.
Two Cabinet ministers on his delegation posted a photo of Bolsonaro and aides munching on slices of pizza on a New York sidewalk on Sunday night.
Bolsonaro's supporters praised the casual "simplicity" of their leader happy to eat pizza on the street near the Manhattan hotel where he is staying.
Asked by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a meeting on Monday whether he had been vaccinated, Bolsonaro replied: "No. Not yet."
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio appealed to world leaders, "including most notably Bolsonaro from Brazil," to get vaccinated before attending the U.N. gathering in the city.
"If you don't want to be vaccinated, don't bother coming," de Blasio said at a news conference.
Last week, General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid notified the 193-member states that the U.N.'s COVID-19 vaccination honor system will remain in place for presidents, prime ministers and diplomats. They are not required to show proof of immunization.
Some leaders are staying away and sending a video statement instead because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brazil's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on reports a Brazilian diplomat had tested positive in New York.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "We are aware of the reports and are in contact with the Brazilian mission."
Bolsonaro will be the first head of state to address the annual U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday morning.
Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu Writing by Anthony Boadle; editing by Grant McCool
Comments
Oh ya 30 days ago
Harley the way it happens is slowly. Micro clots until they break free and head for the head or heart. Go get a D Dimer test and that will show it. All 4 death shots are designed to make spike proteins and the spike part is what starts jamming up in the blood vessels until it plugs them. Get educated on this, your life depends on it and you won't sound stupid when you post
harleyrider 30 days ago
I've had both shots....no clots, no other side effects. I know many people who have also. No problems whatsoever that are so widely touted.
Oh ya 31 days ago
Food out of a box is still better than getting a spike protein clot shot. I am not saying you should not get the clot shot just saying I am smart enough not to get one.
