Brazilian president defies coronavirus advice with selfies

Brasilia, May 18 (RHC)-- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro continues to defy advice on social distancing even as the coronavirus outbreak in Brazil worsens.  On Sunday, he plucked children from a crowd of supporters for selfie-photos, as the country's outbreak becomes larger than Spain and Italy.

The right-wing president posed for selfies with at least three children picked out from a crowd who had congregated outside the presidential palace, Reuters news agency reported.

In an online video, Bolsonaro said he welcomed the demonstration.  "Above all (the people) want freedom, they want democracy, they want respect," he said.

Health Ministry figures from Sunday night showed 7,938 new cases in Brazil bringing the total above 241,000. A further 485 people died, lifting the death toll to 16,118.