Brazil’s Bolsonaro in isolation after top aide tested positive at UN assembly

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro went into isolation on Wednesday, one day after returning from the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly, where he was exposed to a member of his administration who tested positive for COVID-19, Reuters reported.

Bolsonaro has boasted of his unvaccinated status, and broke U.N. rules when he attended the general assembly this week without being immunized.

According to Reuters, Brazilian health regulator Anvisa has recommended the entire presidential delegation that travelled to the assembly should go into isolation.

Brazil’s Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga disclosed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 while accompanying Bolsonaro to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

“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 from Portuguese.

Queiroga maintained that he wore a mask the entire time he was inside the building where the assembly was held. Unlike Bolsonaro, Queiroga has reportedly received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Brazilian president is believed to have been only member of his delegation not at least partially vaccinated.

The health minister is believed to have shaken hands with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has already contracted COVID-19 and been vaccinated.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the Brazil’s entire delegation has decided to quarantine for fourteen days.

“Here at the U.N., we have looked into the potential exposure to U.N. staff who had been present in the General Assembly Hall and contact tracing is being finalized,” said Dujarric. “At present, no close contacts amongst U.N. staff have been identified.”