BRAZILIAN trade unions have filed claims of genocide and crimes against humanity against President Jair Bolsonaro with the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UniSaude network filed the complaint on behalf of more than a million medical workers,  accusing the far-right leader of reacting to the outbreak with “contempt, neglect and denial.”

On Saturday Mr Bolsonaro, who has twice tested positive for Covid-19, was seen riding his motorbike and greeting supporters without a protective face mask.

Brazil has had 87,000 deaths and 2.4 million people have tested positive for coronavirus so far, with more cases than any country except the United States. At least 195,516 health workers are among those infected, according to official statistics. 

“He has risked the lives of health professionals and the people,” a UniSaude statement said, announcing the charges.

Mr Bolsonaro has sought to downplay the seriousness of Covid-19, refusing to take preventative measures and ignoring the advice of his health ministers, two of whom have resigned since the outbreak began.

UniSaude warned that the country has been without a health minister for more than two months, with the post being temporarily filled by a general, Eduardo Pazuello.

“Brazil's situation is extremely serious, and this has happened because of Bolsonaro’s unreliable decisions,” it said.

Cases are rising in 10 of the country’s 26 states. The national average daily death toll has remained at above 1,000 for almost nine weeks.

Mr Bolsonaro has come under increasing political pressure after former ally and justice minister Sergio Moro turned against him, accusing the president of political interference in the police force and judiciary.

And he also faces opposition from the Catholic Church. Some 152 bishops have signed an open letter warning of tensions between key institutions of the state and  of an impending economic collapse.