Brazil’s first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, has tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, July 30, weeks after her husband contracted the virus.
President Jair Bolsonaro however announced five days ago that he has recovered from the illness and resumed his normal work routine.
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The president’s office stated Michelle Bolsonaro, 38, “is in good health and will follow all established protocols”, adding that she is being treated by the presidential medical team.
Bolsonaro, 65, has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic as Brazil has surged to become the country with the second-highest number of infections and deaths in the world, after the United States: more than 2.5 million and 90,000, respectively.
The far-right president, who has compared the virus to a “little flu,” has fought to end state and local stay-at-home measures to contain it, arguing the economic fallout could be worse than the disease itself.
He is instead pushing the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, and took it himself when he was infected, despite numerous studies finding it has no benefit against COVID-19 and can cause serious side effects.
Bolsonaro regularly flouted social distancing guidelines before his diagnosis, hugging and shaking hands with supporters at rallies.
After he came down with a fever and tested positive for the virus on July 7, he spent two weeks in quarantine in the presidential palace, holding meetings remotely.
Michelle Bolsonaro had announced on July 11 that she and her two daughters tested negative for the virus.
On Thursday, during President Jair’s first public event since his illness, he greeted a crowd of supporters in the northeastern state of Piaui, removing his face mask at several points.
Five of Bolsonaro’s ministers have also tested positive for the virus, including Science and Technology Minister Marcos Pontes who contracted the virus on Thursday, July 30.
