Along the emblematic beach of Ipanema, police carrying megaphones called for sunbathers to pack up their parasols as part of a new strategy to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

“Quarantine is not a holiday. Go home,” officers urged them yesterday.

Only the day before, hundreds had gathered along the five-mile stretch of Rio de Janeiro’s southern seafront to enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

President Bolsonaro has been accused of risking the lives of millions for shrugging off advice from experts and mocking the coronavirus pandemic, which he initially labelled a “fantasy”.

His attitude has hurt his popularity at home. A poll published on Thursday showed 45 per cent of Brazilians were in favour of Mr Bolsonaro’s impeachment, up from 38 per cent in