Brazil President Bolsonaro says he tested negative for coronavirus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on social media he tested negative for coronavirus.

Bolsonaro has been under medical observation since his Communications Secretary Fabio Wajngarten tested positive for the virus on Thursday. Both officials were part of a delegation that met with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence last weekend in Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Coronavirus has spread rapidly throughout Latin America since the region’s first case was confirmed in Brazil on February 26.

Argentina has temporarily banned all international flights from virus hotspots around the world, while Peru has delayed the start of its school year and Colombia ordered travellers from China, Italy, Spain and France to self-quarantine.

"The Armed Forces Hospital and [diagnostic laboratory] Sabin have returned a negative test result for COVID-19 for the President of the Republic Jair Bolsonaro," said a post on the far-right leader's Facebook page, along with a picture of him flashing an obscene arm gesture at the press.

– TIMES/BLOOMBERG/AFP