Corruption plagues Brazil's COVID-19 fight

Experts say that massive amount of government emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic are being stolen in Brazil, the world's second-hardest-hit country. RIO DE JANEIRO: Ingrid dos Santos has no idea who's been receiving the paychecks from her job as a nurse at a COVID-19 field hospital in Rio de Janeiro, but she knows it isn't her.

Brazil has a long history of graft scandals. But even by Brazilian standards, the scope of the accusations is outrageous.Amazonas state allegedly purchased overpriced ventilators from a wine store. Rio de Janeiro's governor is facing impeachment over the seven field hospitals the state contracted, five of which never opened. Brasilia's health secretary was arrested on Tuesday over suspected kickbacks on coronavirus test kits.Even football superstar Neymar got dragged in.

As authorities rushed to buy suddenly scarce ventilators, intensive care beds, face masks and hand sanitiser, Congress passed a bill in April authorizing all levels of government to make emergency purchases without tenders or the usual red tape.Many countries hit hard by the virus took similar measures.

"It's much easier to monitor one big public entity's contracts than 5,000 entities'. The total lack of coordination by the federal government definitely increased the risk of corruption."

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