Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tests Coronavirus positive after fourth test

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for COVID-19, leer himself anunced to reporters on Tuesday. Bolsonaro has derided coronavirus as just a "little flu," and previously appeared in public and at rallies without a mask, even hugging supporters.

A news ncy quoted him saying, "Everyone knew that it would reach a considerable part of population sooner or later. It was positive for me," referring to Covid-19 test he took Monday.

Bolsonaro was reportedly being treated with anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin as he awaited result of his fourth Covid-19 test in four months.

Brazil's right-wing leer, who has repeatedly downplayed risks of disease, on Monday, told supporters outside presidential residence in capital Brasilia that he is feeling well. "I've done a lung screening, my lung is clean, OK? I went to do a Covid exam a while ago, but everything is okay," he h said.

Brazil's Supreme Court published documents in May showing that Bolsonaro tested negative three times in March after meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida. Brazilian leer hasn't said wher he took any ditional tests for disease since.

Bolsonaro’s prior tests were conducted using pseudonyms, as is customary for medical tests performed on Brazilian leers in order to preserve ir privacy.

president has repeatedly appeared in public without wearing a mask, shaking hands with supporters, and mingling with crowds. He has fiercely criticized local leers' restrictions on activity and said ecomic impact of shutdowns would inflict more hardship than virus.

He has encourd country to reopen, even as number of cases rises, and has criticized local governments' efforts to stamp out virus through social distancing measures, such as quarantine and shelter-in-place orders.

Brazil is second only to United States in numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths. More than 65,000 people have died of virus in Brazil, according to figures released by country's health ministry on Monday, and 1,623,284 cases have been confirmed so far.