#Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus, he announced Tuesday.

“It came back positive,” the controversial 65-year-old leader said of a COVID-19 test he had Monday that he initially suggested showed “the lung’s clean.”

Bolsonaro — who has repeatedly refused to wear a mask as he played down the contagion ravaging his nation — announced the infection to reporters in the capital, Brasilia.

“I’m well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can’t due to medical recommendation,” said Bolsonaro, now finally wearing a mask.

More than 65,000 Brazilians have so far died from COVID-19 and more than 1.5 million have been infected, Johns Hopkins University data shows. Both numbers are the world’s second-highest totals, and are considered to be undercounts due to the lack of widespread testing.

The right-wing populist has often defied local guidelines to wear a mask in public, even after a judge ordered him to do so in late June.

Over the weekend, Bolsonaro attended several events and was in close contact with the US ambassador to Brazil during July 4 celebrations.

Bolsonaro tested negative for the coronavirus after several aides were diagnosed following a visit to US President Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, in March.

With Post wires