Brazil’s vice president Hamilton Mourao, 67, has been infected with the new coronavirus, his office reported this Sunday, not describing his health.
“This afternoon, Sunday December 27, The positive test for Covid-19 from the Vice President of the Republic, Hamilton Mourao, who will remain in isolation at Jaburu’s official residence, has been confirmed “, the office said in a statement.
The vice-presidency did not address Mourao’s health status Because of his age, he is part of the risk group for a disease that has hit Brazil hard.
The Latin American giant has seen a resurgence in coronavirus cases and deaths since November. As of this Sunday, it records 191,139 deaths – a figure surpassed by the United States alone – and infects more than 7.4 million people.
The Vice President, in charge of replacing the President in the event of death or resignation, he joined the extensive list of the Brazilian cabinet that has been contaminated in recent months. All have recovered from mild symptoms.
President Jair Bolsonaro, a skeptic of the virus who was highly critical of measures to disengage social because of its economic impact, also became infected in early July, as did the first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro. More than half of the ministers have been infected so far.
Mourao is a retired general which cultivates a more moderate image than that of the far-right Bolsonaro, who minimizes the pandemic, which he has called “little flu”, and asks vaccines about their possible side effects.
This is the second time Mourao has isolated himself due to covid-19. In May, he and his wife were incarcerated at the Palacio de Jaburu, the vice president’s official residence in Brasilia, after contacting an official who tested positive.
The vice president then resumed his duties after his test came back negative.