Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro tests negative for coronavirus

The president’s communications chief tested positive for Covid-19 after a trip to the US during which both men met with President Donald Trump

Meanwhile, Brazilian authorities quarantined a cruise ship after a passenger was diagnosed with a suspected case of the virus

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Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:14am, 14 Mar 2020Updated: 1:22am, 14 Mar 2020

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday he has tested negative for the coronavirus, after a scare over a trip on which at least one infected member of his staff rubbed shoulders with Donald Trump.

“The Armed Forces Hospital and [diagnostic laboratory] Sabin have returned a negative test result for Covid-19 for the President of the Republic Jair Bolsonaro,” said a post on the president’s Facebook page, along with a picture of him flashing an obscene arm gesture at the press.

The far-right leader’s communications chief, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive for Covid-19 after last weekend’s trip to the US during which both men met with Trump at his Florida resort.

Wajngarten was photographed standing side-by-side with Trump.

Bolsonaro cancelled a scheduled trip on Thursday to the city of Mossoro, in northeastern Brazil, and his office said he had no other official events on his daily agenda.

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