President Bolsonaro of Brasil has contracted the coronavirus. The leader of the worlds second worst COVID-19 outbreak made the revelation today.
The far right leader has caused huge controversy in Brazil for repeatedly flouting containment measures and minimizing the risk of the virus, which has killed 65,000 people in the South American state.
Media reports note that the statesman had always been skeptical about the pandemic especially with regards to preventive measures.
The Washington Post notes that the president had once referred to the virus as “a little cold” and as recently as last week attended a Fourth of July party at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia without wearing a mask.
“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” the media outlet quotes him having said in March.
Contracting the virus makes Bolsonaro the third world leader to get the virus, after UK PM, Boris Johnson and Honduran President Juan Orlando.
Bolsonaro infection shows coronavirus does not respect race, class or powerful people despite security around any president, says Paho Communicable Diseases Director, Espinal.
Brazil currently has close to two million cases of the virus.
Mimi Mefo Info
