Judge in Brazil orders president to wear mask in public

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered by a federal judge in Brasilia — the country's capital — to wear a face mask in public or face a fine, reports CNN.

Federal Judge Renato Borelli issued a decision Monday, ordering Bolsonaro to wear mask when in public in Brasilia. The judge’s order said failure to do so could potentially lead to a fine of up to R$2000 a day, about $386 USD.

The decision extends to all government employees in the Federal District, where the capital Brasilia is located. 

The Federal District government had issued a decree on April 30 making the use of face masks in public spaces mandatory, in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. President Bolsonaro has since appeared in public at several events without wearing the mask, including rallies with supporters. 

Brazil is the country with the world’s second highest coronavirus rate. More than 1.1 million cases and more than 51,000 deaths have been confirmed by Brazilian health authorities.