This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19, despite his initial dismissal of the virus as 'a little flu.'
Bolsonaro, 65, said he was feeling 'perfectly well' and had only mild symptoms, including tiredness, illness, and a fever of 38 degrees Celsius.
He attributed his positive test result to taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat the illness, and emphasized that 'life goes on' despite the pandemic.
However, his announcement came as no surprise, given his repeated flouting of containment measures and social distancing rules, including wearing a mask in public.
Brazil is the second worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic after the United States, with over 1.6 million cases and 65,000 deaths.
