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| Brazil’s Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus | Brazil’s Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has sought repeatedly to minimize the coronavirus as he urges the country back to work, said Tuesday he has tested positive for covid-19. | |
| Bolsonaro, who has been an outlier among world leaders in his skepticism of both the coronavirus and preventive measures intended to curb it, was tested Monday evening after developing symptoms that included a fever. | Bolsonaro, who has been an outlier among world leaders in his skepticism of both the coronavirus and preventive measures intended to curb it, was tested Monday evening after developing symptoms that included a fever. |
| “There’s no problem,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s natural. There’s no dread. It’s life.” | |
| The result adds one more case to what has become the world’s second-worst coronavirus outbreak, after the United States. Brazil has reported more than 1.6 million cases and 65,000 deaths — both believed to be undercounts — an escalating disaster that scientists and health officials say has been exacerbated by Bolsonaro’s frequent dismissal of it. | The result adds one more case to what has become the world’s second-worst coronavirus outbreak, after the United States. Brazil has reported more than 1.6 million cases and 65,000 deaths — both believed to be undercounts — an escalating disaster that scientists and health officials say has been exacerbated by Bolsonaro’s frequent dismissal of it. |
| Bolsonaro, 65, has described covid-19 as a “little cold,” repeatedly waded into crowds of supporters, threatened to host a large barbecue to defy health measures, and as recently as last week attended a Fourth of July party at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia without wearing a mask. A Brazilian court last month ordered Bolsonaro to wear a mask while in public. | |
| Brazil’s Bolsonaro, channeling Trump, dismisses coronavirus measures — it’s just ‘a little cold’ | Brazil’s Bolsonaro, channeling Trump, dismisses coronavirus measures — it’s just ‘a little cold’ |
| “In my particular case,” the former Army officer said in a national address in March, “with my history as an athlete, if I were infected by the virus, I wouldn’t need to worry. I wouldn’t feel anything or, if very affected, it would be like a little flu or little cold.” | “In my particular case,” the former Army officer said in a national address in March, “with my history as an athlete, if I were infected by the virus, I wouldn’t need to worry. I wouldn’t feel anything or, if very affected, it would be like a little flu or little cold.” |
| Bolsonaro is at least the fourth world leader to test positive for covid-19. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was treated in intensive care in April; he has since recovered. Guinea-Bissau’s Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam tested positive in April. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was hospitalized last month. He announced last week he was leaving the hospital and resuming work. | |
| Bolsonaro shared the news that he had contracted a highly infectious and potentially fatal virus at a news conference with reporters huddled near him. He wore a mask. | |
| Despite the positive test results, he repeated the same talking points he’s used since the beginning of the pandemic. He said some of the preventive measures had been exaggerated, urged Brazilians to prioritize the economy, and said the young had almost no need to worry if they catch the disease. Scientists strongly disagree. | |
| “Life will continue, and Brazil needs to produce,” he said. “If the economy isn’t functioning, it will create other problems that will lead to more death.” | |
| He said he planned to continue working in isolation, but had canceled travel. | |
| At the end of the conference, he stepped several feet away and removed his mask to address the reporters. | |
| “I’m good, relaxed,” he said. “We are a democracy, and we are going to continue to be careful. People who are younger, if you get the virus, be calm. The chance of it being more grave is practically zero.” | |
| But data scientists say the situation in Brazil is much more complicated. Among the young, Brazil has a significantly higher mortality rate than its developed peers. In Rio de Janeiro state, more than two-thirds of hospitalizations are of people younger than 50. | |
| U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman, who hosted Bolsonaro at the July 4 barbecue, said he will also be tested. Images shared on social media showed Bolsonaro and Chapman arm-in-arm at the event, without masks. Chapman said he has no symptoms. | U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman, who hosted Bolsonaro at the July 4 barbecue, said he will also be tested. Images shared on social media showed Bolsonaro and Chapman arm-in-arm at the event, without masks. Chapman said he has no symptoms. |
| Na Embaixada dos EUA, celebrando o 4 de julho, dia da independência americana. pic.twitter.com/CqtgUNxiSL | Na Embaixada dos EUA, celebrando o 4 de julho, dia da independência americana. pic.twitter.com/CqtgUNxiSL |
| Uncertainty over Bolsonaro’s coronavirus status has trailed him since almost the beginning of the pandemic. In March, his communication secretary tested positive for the virus after President Trump hosted Bolsonaro, the secretary and others at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago. | Uncertainty over Bolsonaro’s coronavirus status has trailed him since almost the beginning of the pandemic. In March, his communication secretary tested positive for the virus after President Trump hosted Bolsonaro, the secretary and others at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago. |
| Bolsonaro said he’d tested negative twice, but skepticism persisted as more than a dozen members of his presidential envoy tested positive for the virus. He refused to release his test results until he was ordered to do so by a court. | Bolsonaro said he’d tested negative twice, but skepticism persisted as more than a dozen members of his presidential envoy tested positive for the virus. He refused to release his test results until he was ordered to do so by a court. |
| Late last month, he wondered aloud whether he did have coronavirus, and said he intended to take another test. | Late last month, he wondered aloud whether he did have coronavirus, and said he intended to take another test. |
| He has meanwhile urged Brazilians to disobey local orders to close businesses and self-isolate. He’s on his third health minister since the start of the pandemic. He fired the first after clashing over the need for social isolation. Then he pushed out the second, who’d disagreed with Bolsonaro over liberally using the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat virus patients. | He has meanwhile urged Brazilians to disobey local orders to close businesses and self-isolate. He’s on his third health minister since the start of the pandemic. He fired the first after clashing over the need for social isolation. Then he pushed out the second, who’d disagreed with Bolsonaro over liberally using the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat virus patients. |
| While other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, Brazil can’t get past its first | While other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, Brazil can’t get past its first |
| Bolsonaro next installed a military man who isn’t a doctor. Bolsonaro said recently that the response to the virus had been exaggerated. | Bolsonaro next installed a military man who isn’t a doctor. Bolsonaro said recently that the response to the virus had been exaggerated. |
| Without a coordinated federal strategy, the country has drifted. Governors and mayors have been left to make decisions on their own, often in conflict with Bolsonaro’s desire to keep the economy open. Responses didn’t vary only among states and cities, but neighborhood by neighborhood. The disorganization has abetted widespread contamination, and left many Brazilians unsure of which officials to trust. | Without a coordinated federal strategy, the country has drifted. Governors and mayors have been left to make decisions on their own, often in conflict with Bolsonaro’s desire to keep the economy open. Responses didn’t vary only among states and cities, but neighborhood by neighborhood. The disorganization has abetted widespread contamination, and left many Brazilians unsure of which officials to trust. |
| In recent weeks, cities have started to repon. Scientists now fear that cases in the coming weeks will surge higher as bars, restaurants and other meeting places fill up once more. | In recent weeks, cities have started to repon. Scientists now fear that cases in the coming weeks will surge higher as bars, restaurants and other meeting places fill up once more. |
| Brazil, ravaged by the coronavirus, becomes key testing ground for vaccine | Brazil, ravaged by the coronavirus, becomes key testing ground for vaccine |
| As coronavirus kills indigenous people in the Amazon, Brazil’s government goes missing | As coronavirus kills indigenous people in the Amazon, Brazil’s government goes missing |
| In Brazil, a dying man and a desperate search for an open bed | In Brazil, a dying man and a desperate search for an open bed |