3 years ago
The Brazilian president has become the second major world leader, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to confirm that he has contracted the virus.
He, who has consistently downplayed the dangers of the virus, revealed his positive test result during nationally televised remarks Tuesday. "It came back positive," he told reporters from behind a mask.
Brazil has the second largest outbreak, only after the US, with more than 65000 deaths due to complications linked to Covid-19With more than 1.6 million confirmed cases as of Tuesday. Researchers fear that the real numbers are much higher than the official tallies as there is a significant lagging in testing.
Yet Bolsonaro, 65, has repeatedly doubted the severity of the virus since it first found a foothold in Brazil, reportedly in late February. A key ally of President Trump, the right-wing Brazilian leader has called the coronavirus "a little flu," accused the media of hysteria and campaigned against the shutdowns implemented by local leaders.
"I'm sorry," Bolsonaro said in April, after the country's death toll reached 5,000, "but what do you want me to do about it?"
Tens of thousands of deaths later, Bolsonaro has remained firmly supportive of reopening and skeptical of social distancing, both for others and himself.
Last week, he vetoed legislation that would have mandated the use of face masks in schools, churches and businesses. During a luncheon hosted last Saturday by the U.S. ambassador in Brazil, Bolsonaro was photographed embracing his foreign affairs minister, flashing a smile and a thumbs-up.
The American ambassador, Todd Chapman, was seated on the other side of the president. Bolsonaro, Chapman and all of the other men in the image weren't wearing masks. The embassy said Tuesday that the ambassador had tested negative but is staying at home in quarantine.
