The coastal city of Itajaí in southern Brazil is known for its port and sandy beaches, but recent questionable attempts to hold Covid-19 at bay have brought an additional notoriety. In early July, Mayor Volnei Morastoni — who also happens to be a doctor — took to social media to announce a massive giveaway of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. The aim of the program was to protect residents against a disease rampaging across the country. 

The only problem is that this widely used antiparasitic drug is unproven as a treatment or a protection against the coronavirus.

Proclaiming ivermectin "another weapon in our war against the coronavirus," Morastoni urged everyone to embrace its use, avoid crowds and wear masks. Soon after, people began to line up outside the city’s 200,000 square foot events center to collect their allocation of the miracle immunity-boosting pills. Some had even taken a ferry from a neighboring municipality.

Behind the United States, Brazil has the second-highest Covid-19 infection figures in the world, with more than 3,600,000 confirmed cases and 115,300 deaths. People were understandably desperate to be shielded from the virus.