The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has announced live on television he has tested positive for coronavirus. The Guardian reports that Bolsonaro, 65, has repeatedly trivialised the pandemic and flouted social distancing, even as Brazil became the second-worst-hit country after the US, with more than 65,000 deaths and 1.6m confirmed cases.
In March, as COVID-19 claimed its first victims in Brazil, the far-right populist used an address to the nation to brag that, if infected, he would quickly shake off the illness thanks to his “athlete’s background”. Since then, Bolsonaro has continued to attend social events and political rallies, often wearing masks incorrectly, or not wearing them at all. Bolsonaro also continued to undermine what he called “overblown” and panic-inducing attempts by Brazilian governors and mayors to slow the spread of the virus through shutdowns and social distancing.
The report says reports of Bolsonaro’s possible infection first emerged on Monday evening, with local news outlets reporting that he had been tested after developing coronavirus symptoms, including a 38C temperature and a persistent cough. A scan of Bolsonaro’s lungs was also taken, with the president telling supporters it had shown them to be “clear”.
The report says it understood Brazil’s president had started complaining of tiredness on Saturday night, after his lunch with the US ambassador, and continued feeling unwell on Sunday.
Bolsonaro’s response to the coronavirus has sparked a domestic and international outcry, with many directly blaming him for the high death toll. Brazil currently lacks a permanent health minister after two were forced from their jobs in less than a month after clashing with Bolsonaro over the pandemic.
[link url="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/07/jair-bolsonaro-coronavirus-positive-test-brazil-president"]Full report in The Guardian[/link]