Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for COVID-19 after months of downplaying the virus’ severity. Bolsonaro confirmed about his health status while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters in capital Brasilia. The test “has come out and it’s positive,” said President Bolsonaro. He said he is already taking hydroxychloroquine — an anti-malarial unproven to effectively treat COVID-19 and azithromycin to treat the illness.
“I’m well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can’t due to medical recommendations,” Bolsonaro said. “I thought I had it before, given my very dynamic activity. I’m president and on the combat lines. I like to be in the middle of the people.”
The 65-year-old populist has often been seen in public openly shaking hands with supporters and mingle with crowds. Many a times he has interacted with people without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus, and that it would be nothing more than a “little flu” were he to contract it. Bolsonaro had started feeling unwell on Sunday and got worse on Monday, feeling “tiredness, illness and a fever of 38 degrees” Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit).