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 the coronavirus, but claimed to be feeling 'perfectly well' with only mild symptoms.
Bolsonaro, 65, had been a vocal skeptic of the virus, repeatedly flouting containment measures and minimizing its risks, despite Brazil being the second-worst hit country in the world after the United States, with over 65,000 deaths and 1.6 million infections.
According to Bolsonaro, he started feeling unwell on Sunday and his condition worsened on Monday, with symptoms including tiredness, illness, and a fever of 38 degrees Celsius.
However, he insisted that he was feeling 'good and calm,' and removed his face mask to emphasize the point.
"Life goes on. We're going to take care, particularly of old people and those with illnesses that are a risk factor," Bolsonaro said, repeating his mantra that the 'collateral effects' of the virus should not be worse than the illness itself.
As part of his treatment, Bolsonaro is taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, with the latter being an antibiotic used to treat pneumonia.
