After months of downplaying the harms and dangers of Covid-19 even though his country became one of the worst hit countries on the globe, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the virus.
Bolsonaro personally announced this fact on TV.
According to the President, he said that he felt unwell on Sunday and thus tested for the virus on Monday, after which he tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. He said that his physician suggested he get tested after showing various symptoms of the global pandemic.
It seemed quite clear that Bolsonaro tried to diminish the impact of the story, as he emphasized that everyone knew that a large portion of the population was going to contract the virus anyway.
Before the test results came in, Bolsonaro said that he was being treated with hydroxychloroquine among other drugs. The pills, originally intended for treatment of malaria, had been endorsed by Bolsonaro and US President Donald Trump as a potential cure for Covid-19 without scientific backing.
Despite the pill being disavowed by the World Health Organization as being useless against Covid-19, the Brazilian President still argued that the effects of the malaria pills were direct and that he was feeling much better because of it.
For perhaps the first time since the outbreak of the virus, Bolsonaro finally admitted the possibility of death and serious health concerns caused by the virus after downplaying the pandemic as a little flu. He admitted that there is always a chance the virus will be lethal to those over 65 like himself.
Just the day before, Bolsonaro argued that the tests for his lungs came clean as supporters gathered around the Presidential Palace after the local media reported that he had a fever. He did, however, recommend that no one get close to him.
The irony of the whole situation is that Bolsonaro had very publicly ignored recommendations by health experts. For instance, he held massive rallies with his supporters without wearing a face mask and even hugged a few of them.
He tried to play tough, saying that he believed he had already contracted the virus and did not notice the symptoms because he has been in close contact with so many people already.
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Replaced!