Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Has Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro says he has tested positive for COVID-19 after months of downplaying the virus’s severity. He confirmed the test results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters in the 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.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Has Tested Positive For Coronavirus

To CNN Brazil Bolsonaro told that he underwent an X-ray of his lungs at a military hospital as a precaution. Local media said the virus test results would come at about midday Tuesday. He also said he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure. Local media said the 65-year-old Bolsonaro had cleared his schedule for the week. “The president is in good health at the moment and is in his residence,” his office said in a statement.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He 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 is the second worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic, with more than 65,000 deaths and at least 1.6 million cases.

Some of the recent developments:

• Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, 65, revealed Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after developing a cough and other symptoms.
• Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said Tuesday that the White House has formally notified Congress that the U.S. has officially started the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization.
• Caesars Entertainment told its employees in an email Monday that they could be fired for not wearing a face mask.
• Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said FEMA denied multiple requests for a mega-COVID-19 testing site as they’ve done in other cities.
• Florida state officials are ordering all schools to reopen in August “at least five days per week for all students.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the country is “still knee-deep in the first wave of this.” Arizona is one hot spot: The state surpassed 100,000 cases Monday, and more than 62,000 of the 101,441 reported cases involve people younger than 44, state officials said.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state will require masks in seven counties where the novel coronavirus is spreading most rapidly. The requirement will take effect at 6 p.m. Wednesday. He also said “We are seeing a serious situation, “We have to take action.”