Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been fined for not wearing a mask as he joined thousands of motorcyclists at a rally in Sao Paulo.
Bolsonaro, led thousands of motorcyclist supporters through the streets of São Paulo on Saturday – and was fined for failure to wear a mask in violation of local pandemic restrictions.
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The rightwing president waved to the crowd from his motorcycle and later from atop a sound truck, where helmeted but largely maskless backers cheered and chanted as he insisted that masks were useless for those already vaccinated – an assertion disputed by most public health experts.
São Paulo’s state government press office said a fine – equivalent to about $110 (£78) – would be imposed for violation of a rule that has required masks in public places since May 2020.
According to a survey by local authorities, 12,000 motorcycles participated in the pro-Bolsonaro event.
Bolsonaro’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The procession of motorcyclists wound out of the city and back, arriving at Ibirapuera Park, where the president clambered on top of a car to defend his denunciation of masks for the vaccinated.