While Govt downplaying the threat, Brazilian gangsters take action to tackle coronavirus

Criminals gangs who dwell in Rio de Janeiro's slums have enforced their own lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus as the Brazillian government is neglecting the seriousness of this pandemic.

President Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed the pandemic by calling it a "little flu" few days ago in na national event, reports The Print.

According to Brazilian media, threatening messages are being circulated in the slums of Rio de Janeiro by gangsters to obey the decision of lockdown.

One of the messages by a gang read "Attention all residents of Rio das Pedras, Muzema and Tijuguinhal! Curfew from 8 pm…Whoever is seen on the street after this time will learn to respect the next one."

One of their messages said: "We're imposing a curfew because nobody is taking this seriously. Whoever is in the street screwing around or going for a walk will receive a corrective and serve as an example. Better to stay home doing nothing. The message has been given."

It also said "If the government does not have the capacity to fix it, organised crime will solve it."

As of Tuesday, Brazil's health ministry reported over 2,201 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Governor Wilson Witzel has warned that the state's public health system is likely to "collapse" in the next 15 days.