Coronavirus

Science and Technology Minister becomes fifth cabinet member to contract coronavirus

Marcos Pontes, Brazil’s Science and Technology Minister, announced during a live broadcast on Wednesday evening that he has tested positive for Covid-19. Mr. Pontes — a former astronaut who was the first Brazilian in space in 2006 — said he is feeling well, though decided to take a coronavirus test after contracting a fever.

Mr. Pontes is now the fifth member of Jair Bolsonaro’s cabinet to test positive for Covid-19, after Augusto Heleno (Institutional Security), Bento Albuquerque (Mines and Energy), Onyx Lorenzoni (Citizenship), and recently appointed Milton Ribeiro (Education). Of course, President Bolsonaro has also tested positive for coronavirus.

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Euan Marshall

Originally from Scotland, Euan Marshall traded Glasgow for São Paulo in 2011. Specializing in Brazilian soccer, politics, and the connection between the two, he authored a comprehensive history of Brazilian soccer entitled “A to Zico: An Alphabet of Brazilian Football.”

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