Protest sees millions banging pots and pans from balconies in Brazil as they criticize President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic

People in Brazil took to their balconies to bang pots and pans as they expressed anger at President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Millions of protesters in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro appeared at windows on Wednesday evening calling for the president to step down. It was the biggest protest against Mr Bolsonaro’s government to date.

The protests began during a televised statement by the president in the afternoon, then resumed with more intensity at an agreed time later in the evening.

People in tall buildings and houses across the country banged empty pots, switched their lights on and off and shouted “Bolsonaro out!”.

There are over 500 cases of coronavirus in Brazil, including two government ministers.

Mr Bolsonaro, who has previously dismissed precautions taken against the novel coronavirus as “hysteria” and “fantasy”, has been criticised for his response to the deadly virus.

The president has been tested for the virus twice but said on both occasions the results were negative.

However, 14 people who travelled with him to Florida to meet President Trump have tested positive for the virus.