This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-53319517

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Coronavirus: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive Coronavirus: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive
(about 1 hour later)
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus.Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus.
He took the test, his fourth, on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature.He took the test, his fourth, on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature.
Mr 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. Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down risks of what he has called the "little flu", saying he would not be seriously affected. He has opposed lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy.
He has also urged regional governors to ease lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy, and on Monday he watered down regulations on wearing face masks. Brazil has the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the world, after the US.
Mr 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". What did Mr Bolsonaro say?
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. He made the announcement in a TV interview on Tuesday, saying the fever he had been experiencing had gone down and that he felt "very well".
He added that on Monday he had felt worse which prompted him to take the coronavirus test. Mr Bolsonaro said that he had started experiencing symptoms on Sunday. He said he had had a high temperature, a cough and had felt unwell.
He added that on Monday he had felt worse, which prompted him to take the coronavirus test.
Mr Bolsonaro is in a higher-risk group because of his age, 65.Mr Bolsonaro is in a higher-risk group because of his age, 65.
He said he was taking hydroxychloroquine - championed by US President Donald Trump - and azithromycin to treat the illness. He said he was taking hydroxychloroquine - championed by US President Donald Trump - and azithromycin, an antibiotic, to treat the illness. Neither has been proven to be effective against the virus.
Contact tracing and tests will be carried out for the people Mr Bolsonaro has met recently.
His previous three tests for the virus all came back negative.
The executive director of the World Health Organization, Dr Mike Ryan, wished President Bolsonaro "a speedy and full recovery from this disease", adding: "I think the message to us all is: we are vulnerable to this virus."The executive director of the World Health Organization, Dr Mike Ryan, wished President Bolsonaro "a speedy and full recovery from this disease", adding: "I think the message to us all is: we are vulnerable to this virus."
'I wouldn't feel anything' What had he previously said?
Back in April, Mr Bolsonaro said that even if he were to be infected with the virus, he would "not have to worry as I wouldn't feel anything, at most it would be like a little flu or a little cold". Back in April, Mr Bolsonaro said that even if infected, he would "not have to worry as I wouldn't feel anything, at most it would be like a little flu or a little cold".
When he made the remark, the number of Covid-19-related deaths was still under 3,000 and the number of infections was around 40,000. The number of Covid-19-related deaths and infections - at that time under 3,000 and 40,000 - has since soared.
But the numbers have skyrocketed since then. As of Monday, the number of deaths was more than 65,000 and infections were over 1.6m, second only to the United States. Despite this, President Bolsonaro has argued that regional lockdowns are having a more damaging effect than the virus itself, and accused the media of spreading panic and paranoia.
Despite the rising numbers, President Bolsonaro has argued that regional lockdowns are having a more damaging effect than the virus itself, and accused the media of spreading panic and paranoia. His other comments on the virus include:
Jair Bolsonaro on coronavirus: He has since continued to rail against measures that he deems "dictatorial" such as the closing beaches or requirements to wear face coverings.
While he was at his most vocal and dismissive in March, he has continued to rail against measures that he deems "dictatorial" such as the closing beaches or requirements to wear face coverings. On Monday, he made further changes to a law that would require Brazilians to wear masks in public.
On Monday, he made further changes to a law which would require Brazilians to wear masks in public.
He has attended a number of public events without a mask, even when local rules required him to wear one.He has attended a number of public events without a mask, even when local rules required him to wear one.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo posted a photo on social media showing himself with President Bolsonaro and others attending an Independence Day celebration at the US embassy in Brasilia.On Sunday, Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo posted a photo on social media showing himself with President Bolsonaro and others attending an Independence Day celebration at the US embassy in Brasilia.
None of those in the photo is wearing a mask or observing social distancing.None of those in the photo is wearing a mask or observing social distancing.
The US embassy said that the ambassador had had lunch with Mr Bolsonaro and others on 4 July. It added that the ambassador had no symptoms but that he would undergo testing.The US embassy said that the ambassador had had lunch with Mr Bolsonaro and others on 4 July. It added that the ambassador had no symptoms but that he would undergo testing.
The ambassador had earlier tweeted a picture of himself with President Bolsonaro.The ambassador had earlier tweeted a picture of himself with President Bolsonaro.
Mr Bolsonaro's previous three tests for the virus all came back negative. What is the state of Covid-19 in Brazil?
Infections in Brazil and Latin America as a whole took a while to take hold but then started to rise, initially for Brazil in its Amazonas region but then more starkly in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Brazil became only the second country to pass one million cases on 20 June and has continued to rise, passing 1.5 million. Many experts believe deficiencies in testing mean the overall figures for cases and deaths could be considerably higher.
Nevertheless lockdowns began to be lifted in many areas even as the cases surged. Both Rio and São Paulo have reopened bars and restaurants in the past week.
Two health ministers - both doctors - have left their posts after disagreements with the president.
One ray of hope though is Brazil's renowned expertise in vaccines. Two major vaccine tests, in partnership with AstraZeneca and Sinovac, are to begin final phase testing on thousands of Brazilian volunteers.