Brazil health minister tests positive for COVID-19 at UN General Assembly

Brazil’s health minister on Tuesday tested positive for the coronavirus while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Marcelo Queiroga announced his positive test hours after arriving at the General Assembly, saying he will stay in the U.S. to quarantine. 

“I communicate to everyone that today I tested positive for #Covid19. I will be quarantined in #EUA , following all health safety protocols,” Queiroga said in a tweet translated into English.

“Meanwhile, the @minsaude will remain firm in the actions to fight the pandemic in Brazil. Let’s win this,” he added.

Comunico a todos que hoje testei positivo para #Covid19. Ficarei em quarentena nos #EUA, seguindo todos os protocolos de segurança sanitária. Enquanto isso, o @minsaude seguirá firme nas ações de enfrentamento à pandemia no Brasil. Vamos vencer esse ! pic.twitter.com/OIaK8hDPy6

— Marcelo Queiroga (@mqueiroga2) September 22, 2021

Queiroga said he wore a mask the whole time he was in the building, The Washington Post reported. He also reportedly shook hands with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who later met with President Biden. 

The health minister has received at least one shot of the coronavirus vaccine, contrasting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who supposedly broke U.N. rules by entering the building unvaccinated.

Bolsonaro has bragged about not getting vaccinated before, and the U.N. is going by the honor system to let people in. 

In Bolsonaro’s speech, he emphasized “early treatment” for the coronavirus and railed against vaccine mandates, according to the Post. 

Another tweet shows Bolsonaro, Queiroga and others on the streets of New York City before Queiroga received his positive test. 

Jantar de luxo em NYC. @jairbolsonaro @gilsonmachadont @mqueiroga2 @andersongtorres pic.twitter.com/SVQuFZXHGY

— Ministro Luiz Ramos (@MinLuizRamos) September 20, 2021

He is the second person from Bolsonaro’s delegation to test positive for the virus in the U.S., with Bloomberg reporting one diplomat tested positive shortly after arriving in the city.