Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus. In a television interview, Bolsonaro disclosed his diagnosis to the nation.
Bolsonaro confirmed the test results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters in capital Brasilia.
“I’m well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can’t due to medical recommendationS,” Bolsonaro said.
Jair Bolsonaro took the test on Monday evening, according to a statement from the presidency, which added the result would come back Tuesday. Local media had reported that he had symptoms of the coronavirus, such as a fever.
“I came from the hospital,” Bolsonaro told supporters after stepping out of his car on Monday evening in comments broadcast by a pro-government YouTube channel. “But all is good,” he added.
Bolsonaro said he had undergone a lung scan, which had shown them to be “clean.”
The president’s public agenda for Tuesday showed an empty morning schedule, with no meetings until 3 pm Local media reported his diary had been cleared as he awaited the result.
The president has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus and that it would be nothing more than a “little flu” were he to contract it.
The populist leader has repeatedly defied local guidelines to wear a mask in public, even after a judge ordered him to do so in late June. Bolsonaro has also railed against social distancing rules supported by the World Health Organization.
He has also repeatedly said that there is no way to prevent 70% of the population falling ill with Covid-19 and that local authorities’ measures to shut down economic activity would ultimately cause more hardship than allowing the virus to run its course.
Brazil has the world’s second-largest outbreak behind the United States. More than 65,000 people have been killed by Covid-19 in Latin America’s largest country.
Cities and states last month began lifting restrictions that had been imposed to control the spread of the virus, as their statistical curves of deaths began to decline along with the occupation rate of its intensive-care units.
Over the weekend, Bolsonaro attended several events and was in close contact with the US ambassador to Brazil during July 4 celebrations. Pictures of the event showed neither wearing a mask.
The US embassy in Brasilia said via Twitter that Todd Chapman, the ambassador, had lunch on July 4 with Bolsonaro, five ministers and Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, who is a federal congressman. The ambassador had no symptoms, but would undergo testing and is “taking precautions,” the embassy said.
Bolsonaro tested negative three times in March after meeting with the US President Donald Trump in Florida. Multiple members of his delegation to the US were later reported to be infected with the virus.
More than 65,000 Brazilians have so far died from Covid-19 and more than 15,00,000 have been infected. Both numbers are the world’s second-highest totals and are considered to be undercounted due to the lack of widespread testing.
(WITH INPUTS FROM AGENCIES)
