Brazilians increasingly disapprove of President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and overwhelmingly support governors and health officials he has attacked for advocating social-distancing measures, two polls showed, Reuters reported.

The surveys suggest Bolsonaro’s attacks on governors and even his own health minister may have backfired.

Bolsonaro’s coronavirus performance has been “bad” or “awful” according to 39 per cent of respondents surveyed this week, up from 33pc last month, according to pollster Datafolha. Those who consider his response to the health crisis “good” or “great” slipped to 33pc from 35pc previously.