Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus. He took a Covid-19 test after showing symptoms of the disease.
While wearing a mask, Bolsonaro assured his supporters outside the presidential palace in Brasilia on Monday that “everything is fine" after he took the coronavirus test.
A video broadcast on a YouTube channel shows Bolsonaro, 65, saying he underwent a separate medical exam which revealed that his lungs were “clean."
News sources in Brazil, including a CNN affiliate, have reported that Bolsonaro contracted the coronavirus, but CNBC has not verified or officially confirmed this yet. A government spokesperson was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the presidential palace affirmed Bolsonaro was in good health but mentioned to NBC News that he had been feeling sick and experiencing a fever of 38 degrees Celsius.
According to local media, Bolsonaro canceled all his official activities until the results of his Covid-19 test are in. The president may expect it around 11 am ET on Tuesday.
"Little flu"
Bolsonaro, an ideological ally of President Donald Trump, has dismissed the coronavirus pandemic and regarded it as a "little flu."
The president repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus and slammed state governors for implementing lockdowns that lead to job losses.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed recommendations from the World Health Organization such as mask wearing, avoiding public gatherings, and maintaining social distancing.
Bolsonaro also consistently called for the reopening of commerce and the economy in Brazil. He also promotes the malaria and lupus drug chloroquine even if no research has proven it as an effective COVID-19 treatment.
He was found supporting protesters in the country’s capital before. The rally expressed support for the administration as it faced a political scandal.
Travel to Brazil
In May, Bolsanaro's ally, Trump, restricted travel from Brazil to curb the spread of coronavirus. Brazil had the second-highest global total of confirmed cases at the time.
The order bans entry to “all aliens” who were in Brazil two weeks prior to their desired entry into the US. The order will take effect on May 28 at 11:59 pm ET.
Trump said Brazil is not in a good situation. “I don’t want people coming over here and infecting our people. I don’t want people over there sick either. We’re helping Brazil with ventilators … Brazil is having some trouble, no question about it.”
“We hope that’ll be temporary, but because of the situation in Brazil, we’re going to take every step necessary to protect the American people,” said US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday.
“We’re concerned about the people of the Southern Hemisphere, and certainly the people of Brazil. They’re having a rough go of it.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that the epicenter of the pandemic has redirected from Europe and the US to South America.
“We’ve seen many South American countries with increasing numbers of cases and clearly there’s a concern across many of those countries, but certainly the most affected is Brazil at this point,” Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program, said Friday during a news briefing at the organization’s Geneva headquarters.
