BRASILIA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday issued a provisional decree that seeks to limit public-sector liability for things that go wrong in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As published in the Government Gazette, the decree states that civil servants and government employees or officials can only be held accountable for mishaps or oversights "if they intentionally committed the serious error in direct or indirect relation to" the measures being taken to combat the outbreak.

The decree defines a serious error as grave negligence, malpractice or recklessness.

As the decree is provisional, it takes effect immediately.