PRESIDENT of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, 65, has tested positive for coronavirus.
He took the test, his fourth, on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature, the BBC is reporting.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks posed by the virus, calling it “a little flu” and saying that he would not be seriously affected by it.
He has also urged regional governors to ease lockdowns.
Only on Monday, Bolsonaro had watered down regulations on wearing face masks.
Bolsonaro made the announcement in a TV interview on Tuesday. He said the fever he had been experiencing had gone down and that he felt “very well.”
The president said that he had started experiencing symptoms on Sunday. He said he had had a high temperature, a cough and had felt unwell.
The executive director of the World Health Organization, Dr Mike Ryan, wished President Bolsonaro “a speedy and full recovery from this disease.”
He added, “I think the message to us all is: we are vulnerable to this virus.”
