Prominent Brazilian politician vows to get coronavirus test after contact with Bolsonaro, others expected to follow

Record ID: 1561351

  • Title: Prominent Brazilian politician vows to get coronavirus test after contact with Bolsonaro, others expected to follow
  • Date: 8th July 2020
  • Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF ALVORADA PALACE
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2020 04:15
  • Keywords: Alberto Fernandez Argentina Bolsonaro Brazil Politicians coronavirus tests
  • Location: BRASILIA, BRAZIL / INTERNET / OLIVOS, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
  • City: BRASILIA, BRAZIL / INTERNET / OLIVOS, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA009CLY8BWN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Wishes for a speedy recovery poured in for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday (July 7) after it was announced he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. At the same time, a prominent Brazilian politician said he intended to get tested for COVID-19 after recent contact with Bolsonaro.
    Bolsonaro will continue working from Brasilia's Alvorada Palace as he recovers from the disease. His diagnosis comes after months minimizing the severity of the pandemic and defying medical experts, even as the virus has killed more than 66,000 people in his country.
    Argentine President Alberto Fernandez sent get well wishes to Bolsonaro as did various Brazilian politicians, including Lower House Speaker Rodrigo Maia. Maia also said he would get tested for the coronavirus after recent contact with Bolsonaro.
    Bolsonaro's positive test looks set to spark a frantic period of contact tracing and tests for those who met Bolsonaro in recent days, including Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, lender Banco Bradesco Chairman Luiz Carlos Trabuco and planemaker Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto.
    While Guedes, who is seen as a key pro-market presence in Bolsonaro's cabinet, has no symptoms associated with the virus and tested negative last week, he will undergo a new test in four days, his press office said in a statement.
    Over the weekend, Bolsonaro was also in close contact with U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman during July 4 celebrations, and pictures showed neither wearing a mask. The U.S. embassy said Chapman had tested negative, but would remain in quarantine.
    With more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil, Bolsonaro's handling of the crisis has drawn criticism from public health experts as he fought state and city efforts to impose social distancing, arguing that the economic damage would be worse than the disease itself.
    (Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Leandra Camera, Pablo Garcia, Juan Bustamante, Geraldine Downer)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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