Prime Minister Modi on Twitter said “prayers and best wishes” for the speedy recovery of Jair Bolsonaro. (File)
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who tested positive for the coronavirus and prayed for its rapid recovery.
“My friend President Jair Bolsonaro, my prayers and my best wishes for your speedy recovery,” said the Prime Minister in a tweet, which he also republished in Portuguese.
Jair Bolsonaro announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, but said he felt “perfectly fine” and had only mild symptoms.
My friend president @jairbolsonaro, my prayers and my best wishes for your speedy recovery.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2020
Far-right leader has caused huge controversy in Brazil for repeatedly flouting containment measures and minimizing the risk of the virus, which killed 65,000 people in the South American giant and infected 1.6 million people .
“Sunday, I was not feeling well. Monday, it got worse when I started to feel tired and to feel muscle pain. I also had a fever of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit Given these symptoms, the presidential doctor said there were suspicions of COVID-19, “said Bolsonaro, adding that he then went to the hospital to have an analysis pulmonary.
But he insisted that he felt “good, calm” and took off his mask to emphasize this point.
He said his wife, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, had also been tested.
In an interview with CNN Brasil following his diagnosis, Bolsonaro said he would avoid face-to-face meetings in the near future. “I am not going to see anyone for meetings. Everything will be done by videoconference and I will rarely meet people if I need to deal with the most reserved questions,” he said.
On Monday, Bolsonaro reassured supporters that his lungs were “clean” after being tested.
This week’s positive result came just days after attending a July 4 commemorative event with the US ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chapman. According to a photo posted on the president’s official Facebook page, Mr. Bolsonaro was at the ambassador’s residence with Mr. Chapman for the event. The images of the rally show that Mr. Bolsonaro is not wearing a mask or observing a social distancing.
Brazil is the second most affected country in the world by the pandemic after the United States.
