Bolivia’s interim president tests positive for COVID-19

Bolivia’s interim president Jeanine Áñez confirmed on Thursday that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

“I am fine, I will work from my isolation,” the leader tweeted Thursday. “Together, let’s get ahead.”

He dado positivo a Covid19, estoy bien, trabajaré desde mi aislamiento. Juntos, vamos a salir adelante. pic.twitter.com/oA4YVYlZFa

— Jeanine Añez Chavez (@JeanineAnez) July 9, 2020

Áñez said Thursday that “I feel well, I feel strong, I am going to keep working remotely from my isolation, and I want to thank all the Bolivians who are working to help us in this health crisis,” Reuters translated.

Cases have spiked in Bolivia in recent weeks, The Associated Press reported. Officials have banned mass gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Bolivia’s Health Minister María Eidy Roca confirmed that she tested positive for COVID-19 last week. At least six other of the country’s ministers have tested positive for the virus, according to Reuters.

Bolivia has documented 42,984 coronavirus cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The South American country has confirmed 1,577 fatalities. 

Áñez is not the first world leader to test positive for the virus. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Monaco’s Prince Albert II and others have all also tested positive.