Bolsonaro’s son and his Agriculture Minister test positive for coronavirus

Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro. Photo: Najara Araújo/CB/CC-BY 4.0

Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to news website R7 — which confirmed the diagnosis with the politician. He took part in the Brazilian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City this week. Two other people within the mission also contracted the coronavirus — including Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president’s third-eldest son, is also his most trusted advisor for international affairs. He helped his father write his UN General Assembly address, tearing up a previous, more moderate draft penned by Brazilian diplomats.

Over 50 people in the Brazilian government are in quarantine after taking part in the Brazilian mission to the United Nations General Assembly, due to Mr. Queiroga’s diagnosis. The Health Minister will remain in New York City until he completes a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

On his traditional Thursday Facebook Live Broadcast, President Bolsonaro said two well-known people had tested positive. “I am one of them,” Eduardo Bolsonaro told R7.The other appears to be Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina, who announced on Friday having tested positive for the coronavirus. Ms. Cristina recently met with Infrastructure Minister Tarcísio Freitas and Marquinhos Trad, the mayor of Campo Grande, the capital of center-western state Mato Grosso do Sul.

UPDATE: Solicitor General Bruno Bianco has also tested positive for the coronavirus, his press advisors say.

Janaína Camelo

Janaína Camelo has been a political reporter for ten years, working for multiple media outlets. More recently, she worked for the presidency's press service and is now specializing in data journalism.