Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reportedly tests positive for coronavirus
Handout picture released by the Brazilian Presidency on March 12, 2020 showing US President Donald Trump (L), Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (R) and his press advisor Fabio Wajngarten (2-L, behind Trump) during a dinner at Mar a Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on March 7, 2020. (Photo by Alan SANTOS / BRAZILIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the new coronavirus, a Brazilian newspaper reported on Friday, citing a presidential palace source.
The Guardian UK said the president was awaiting the result of a second test after the initial one came back positive. His congressman-son Eduardo Bolsonaro, however, said the tests have not been completed.
Bolsonaro was in the United States last week where he met with President Donald Trump. His communication chief Fabio Wajngarten had earlier tested positive for the virus.
Bolsonaro said on Friday morning that his samples were collected for testing.
“I’m using a mask because when we returned from our recent trip to the United States, one of the people that travelled with us had tests in Sao Paulo and it came up positive,” said Bolsonaro.
“Today we collected all the samples and in the next few hours we will have the result.”
WhiteHouse, however, President Donald Trump does not need testing for coronavirus despite having met with Bolsonaro and Wajngarten.
“The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation… tested positive for COVID-19,” Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence “had almost no interactions with the individual” during Bolsonaro’s trip to a Trump golf club in Florida last weekend.
They “do not require being tested at this time,” she said.
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