Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Bolsonaro confirmed the test results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters, saying he had begun feeling ill on Sunday and has been taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug with unproven effectiveness against the virus.
“I’m well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can’t due to medical recommendations,” Bolsonaro said.
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This comes a day after the president said his lungs were “clean” following a coronavirus test. Local media reported he had symptoms associated with the respiratory disease.
Bolsonaro, 65, has repeatedly played down the impact of the virus, describing it as nothing more than “a little flu.”
Brazil has suffered one of the world’s worst outbreaks, with more than 1.6 million confirmed cases and 65,000 related deaths, according to official data on Monday.
Over the weekend, Bolsonaro attended a U.S. Independence Day celebration in Brazil’s capital at which participants declined to wear face masks.
The Brazilian president shared photos on social media of himself, four cabinet ministers, other top aides and U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman, none of whom were wearing masks despite being in close quarters.
On Friday, Bolsonaro also vetoed clauses of new legislation that would have required Brazilians to wear masks at churches, schools, shops, factories and private gatherings but approved their obligatory use on the street and public transport.
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