Coronavirus

President’s spokesman tests positive for Covid-19

President's spokesman tests positive for Covid-19
Spokesman Otávio Rêgo Barros. Photo: Marcos Corrêa/PR

Army General Otávio Rêgo Barros, 59, who serves as spokesman for President Jair Bolsonaro, has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now on a leave of absence. According to Mr. Rêgo Barros’ team, he has not shown symptoms and is currently quarantined.

The spokesman is the 24th person in the president’s entourage to contract the coronavirus. The other 23 tested positive after joining President Bolsonaro’s entourage on a trip to the U.S. in March. Questions have been raised about the president’s own health — but he has refused to disclose the results of the two tests he had in March.

A federal court ordered Mr. Bolsonaro to disclose the results last Saturday, but the Solicitor General’s Office appealed the decision, buying the president more time.