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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reportedly tests positive for coronavirus

89 points by mot2ba 7y ago

psychometry 7y ago
There's always a silver lining.
- emblaegh 7y ago
  His vice is way worse then him.
  - bananamerica 7y ago
    Every Hitler has a Heinrich Himmler...
tremon 7y ago
I'm sure the narrative will be that he doesn't have Covid-19, he's the victim of an assassination plot by the medical establishment for speaking out against them.
- miscaware 7y ago
  Yeah, Bolsonaro has literally never said anything remotely close to that against the medical establishment. He did underestimate the virus a few days ago, but he's clearly changed his mind as the government is releasing emergency measures. I see no problem with that.
- pastor_elm 7y ago
  Bolsonaro's a fighter. He'll survive, come out stronger, and take down the foreign nationals (Macron, you listening?!) that covertly infected him.
  - felipellrocha 7y ago
    No
gberger 7y ago
He met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. This might escalate very rapidly.
- tantalor 7y ago
  Who is the "he" in your comment?
  - gberger 7y ago
    Jair Bolsonaro. Edit: sorry, I had mistyped my original comment. Edited.
    - tsomctl 7y ago
      Along with Bolsonaro's press secretary, who also tests positive.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- felideon 7y ago
  As well as a few others: > By day’s end Thursday, the mayors of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami and U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Lindsey Graham had announced they would self-quarantine, as well as the Miami Police Department’s entire motorcycle patrol unit that escorted Bolsonaro; the medical campus of Miami Dade College said it was shutting down “until further notice”— and questions arose whether President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who spent time last weekend with Bolsonaro and the press secretary at Mar-a-Lago, should be tested for the virus. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article241117911.html https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas...
- chongli 7y ago
  The Prime Minister of Canada's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tested positive as well. Both her and the PM are now in isolation. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of world leaders get sick.
danso 7y ago
Fox News has confirmation from his son, however, they are waiting for the 2nd test results: https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaro-tests-positive-coronavirus https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaro-tests-positiv... > Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo told Fox News that they are doing further testing to confirm the diagnosis, adding that they expect the second set of testing results later Friday.
- gberger 7y ago
  Haha, of course Eduardo is in touch with Fox News.
  - tic_tac 7y ago
    This is a snide and irrelevant comment.
- minimaxir 7y ago
  Update: Apparently the test was negative (although there are unreliable narrators abound): https://twitter.com/johnrobertsFox/status/1238490114768191493 https://twitter.com/johnrobertsFox/status/123849011476819149... > After telling @FoxNews that his father had a preliminary POSITIVE test for coronavirus, Eduardo Bolsonaro now tells @FoxNews the test was NEGATIVE. Bolsonaro says has been in touch with the White House.
nathanaldensr 7y ago
Tests for world leaders and basketball players; no tests for common people. I feel like it's probable Trump and other extremely high-ranking government people have the virus. I also feel like it's not being publicized for political/economic reasons. I admit this is speculation, but even if Trump, Pence, etc. were tested and "reported" to be negative, should we believe that?
- microcolonel 7y ago
  I mean, there are practical and non-nefarious reasons not to tell people that your Commander in Chief is out of commission.
  - vidar 7y ago
    Hard to keep under wraps though
  - addicted 7y ago
    Not in this case. What’s there to be gained? If it goes badly he will be dead. You can’t hide that. If it goes well and he recovers in a few weeks he will still need to be quarantined for those few weeks. So you wouldn’t really see him or anyone around him so people will automatically assume he has contracted it. Especially since he was known to have been hanging out with several people who have now tested positive. So lying about the Presidents health may be a good idea in certain situations. It almost certainly isn’t in this specific situation. Edit: Also, if he lies about it, the hundred of people who have been around him might not take the actions they need to and continue making things worse fornthemselves and those around them.
    - ghostbrainalpha 7y ago
      There is nothing to be gained from your perspective and prediction of future events. Trump has taken MANY actions that defy conventional logic about Gain/Loss and Future Predictions. I think a lot of people view the his primary job to be inspiring confidence in our leadership, and avoiding hysteria and mass panic over the virus. If the person who is supposed to be telling us everything is ok, is actually not ok themselves, the panic could grow very quickly. I agree with you that it would be stupid to lie. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't be tempted to do it anyway. Especially because we could just have messages about everyone being quarantined for safety and they could get away with hiding the President for awhile.
standardUser 7y ago
Everything we know about Donald Trump tells us he is paranoid about contracting illnesses, going as far as to refuse to be in meetings with someone who coughs (per multiple reports). I find it hard to imagine he hasn't been tested given his recent proximity to the Brazilian President and his staff. But he insists he has not been tested. I really don't understand the game Trump is playing here. And where the hell is the declaration of a national emergency? He declares one for his precious wall but not for a global pandemic?
fabiofzero 7y ago
Let's hope for the best outcome in this case (the one where covid-19 wins).
- xiphias2 7y ago
  I don't like people dying but in this case he could be a hero: saving millions of lives by them taking the virus seriously
gcbpp 7y ago
some facts for people new to him. fact: he had the same campaign marketer that trump had. Remember Banon? fact: he staged a hilariously fake assassination attempt during the last week before election to avoid debates. fact: his neighbors (literally next door) killed a deputy councilwoman that was causing him political problems, in broad daylight with automatic weapons. he and his son called them on the day but both lied about it. the neighbors are locked up because there were too many cameras to deny, not they didn't try. fact: he is campaigning to close the senate and superior courts, because they are "full of corruption" now, brazil is gearing up for protests because march is a delicate time over there. the news machine is already full steam on this. the opposition is spreading memes about it being good that he will die from the virus, while his supporters (mostly evangelical Christians) are spreading countless though and prayers. every mass starts with a prayer, and praises, to him. my guess: this is a self serving fake news, to both bolsonaro and trump.
- reese_john 7y ago
  It is literally not a fact that he staged a "hilariously fake assassination attempt". What is a fact, is that your whole post is filled with conspiracy theories. Gentlemen, let's keep this content out of HN.
  - gcbpp 7y ago
    will add english sources as I bother to waste time finding them (they are obviously facts unless you get your news via facebook or whatsapp) banon: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon (search for brazil and follow the sources from there) (also note banon already said he pay personal attention to his wikipedia page) the killing: https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/marielle-franco-brazil-assassination-suspect/ https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/marielle-franco-brazil-a... last right wing president saying ending the separation of powers as suggested by bolsonaro is too dangerous even for him (who sold most state owned companies to foreighn capital and skyrocketed the debt with the FMI) https://mobile.twitter.com/FHC https://mobile.twitter.com/FHC bonus source: he was fined for racist comments https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2017/10/03/jair-bolsonaro-e-condenado-por-discurso-preconceituoso-contra-quilombolas.htm https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2017/1...
pastor_elm 7y ago
Yet somehow Brazil only has 154 reported cases...
gist 7y ago
To state what is obvious you have a person who by nature comes in contact with many people in many situations. (Any many of those they come in contact with also do). So you'd expect them to have a higher probability of getting infected. Not only that but you have a person who specifically might have to avoid not appearing to be 'business as usual' or not wanting offend people by not having a meeting or a visit as planned. That's quite a different standard then most of 'regular' people can in trying to avoid socials situations.
aiphex 7y ago
This thread is devolving and should be removed.
- diego_moita 7y ago
  I agree. It belongs to a conspiracy theories or advocacy sub-reddit, not to HN.
pelasaco 7y ago
Actually he tested negative. That's what is said in all news in Brazil.. lost in translation or bad intention?
zekrioca 7y ago
It was already reported he tested negative.

89 points by mot2ba 7y ago

psychometry 7y ago

There's always a silver lining.

emblaegh 7y ago
His vice is way worse then him.
- bananamerica 7y ago
  Every Hitler has a Heinrich Himmler...

tremon 7y ago

I'm sure the narrative will be that he doesn't have Covid-19, he's the victim of an assassination plot by the medical establishment for speaking out against them.

miscaware 7y ago
Yeah, Bolsonaro has literally never said anything remotely close to that against the medical establishment. He did underestimate the virus a few days ago, but he's clearly changed his mind as the government is releasing emergency measures. I see no problem with that.
pastor_elm 7y ago
Bolsonaro's a fighter. He'll survive, come out stronger, and take down the foreign nationals (Macron, you listening?!) that covertly infected him.
- felipellrocha 7y ago
  No

gberger 7y ago

He met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. This might escalate very rapidly.

tantalor 7y ago
Who is the "he" in your comment?
- gberger 7y ago
  Jair Bolsonaro. Edit: sorry, I had mistyped my original comment. Edited.
  - tsomctl 7y ago
    Along with Bolsonaro's press secretary, who also tests positive.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
felideon 7y ago
As well as a few others: > By day’s end Thursday, the mayors of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami and U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Lindsey Graham had announced they would self-quarantine, as well as the Miami Police Department’s entire motorcycle patrol unit that escorted Bolsonaro; the medical campus of Miami Dade College said it was shutting down “until further notice”— and questions arose whether President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who spent time last weekend with Bolsonaro and the press secretary at Mar-a-Lago, should be tested for the virus. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article241117911.html https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas...
chongli 7y ago
The Prime Minister of Canada's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tested positive as well. Both her and the PM are now in isolation. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of world leaders get sick.

danso 7y ago

Fox News has confirmation from his son, however, they are waiting for the 2nd test results: https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaro-tests-positive-coronavirus https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaro-tests-positiv... > Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo told Fox News that they are doing further testing to confirm the diagnosis, adding that they expect the second set of testing results later Friday.

gberger 7y ago
Haha, of course Eduardo is in touch with Fox News.
- tic_tac 7y ago
  This is a snide and irrelevant comment.
minimaxir 7y ago
Update: Apparently the test was negative (although there are unreliable narrators abound): https://twitter.com/johnrobertsFox/status/1238490114768191493 https://twitter.com/johnrobertsFox/status/123849011476819149... > After telling @FoxNews that his father had a preliminary POSITIVE test for coronavirus, Eduardo Bolsonaro now tells @FoxNews the test was NEGATIVE. Bolsonaro says has been in touch with the White House.

nathanaldensr 7y ago

Tests for world leaders and basketball players; no tests for common people. I feel like it's probable Trump and other extremely high-ranking government people have the virus. I also feel like it's not being publicized for political/economic reasons. I admit this is speculation, but even if Trump, Pence, etc. were tested and "reported" to be negative, should we believe that?

microcolonel 7y ago
I mean, there are practical and non-nefarious reasons not to tell people that your Commander in Chief is out of commission.
- vidar 7y ago
  Hard to keep under wraps though
- addicted 7y ago
  Not in this case. What’s there to be gained? If it goes badly he will be dead. You can’t hide that. If it goes well and he recovers in a few weeks he will still need to be quarantined for those few weeks. So you wouldn’t really see him or anyone around him so people will automatically assume he has contracted it. Especially since he was known to have been hanging out with several people who have now tested positive. So lying about the Presidents health may be a good idea in certain situations. It almost certainly isn’t in this specific situation. Edit: Also, if he lies about it, the hundred of people who have been around him might not take the actions they need to and continue making things worse fornthemselves and those around them.
  - ghostbrainalpha 7y ago
    There is nothing to be gained from your perspective and prediction of future events. Trump has taken MANY actions that defy conventional logic about Gain/Loss and Future Predictions. I think a lot of people view the his primary job to be inspiring confidence in our leadership, and avoiding hysteria and mass panic over the virus. If the person who is supposed to be telling us everything is ok, is actually not ok themselves, the panic could grow very quickly. I agree with you that it would be stupid to lie. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't be tempted to do it anyway. Especially because we could just have messages about everyone being quarantined for safety and they could get away with hiding the President for awhile.

standardUser 7y ago

Everything we know about Donald Trump tells us he is paranoid about contracting illnesses, going as far as to refuse to be in meetings with someone who coughs (per multiple reports). I find it hard to imagine he hasn't been tested given his recent proximity to the Brazilian President and his staff. But he insists he has not been tested. I really don't understand the game Trump is playing here. And where the hell is the declaration of a national emergency? He declares one for his precious wall but not for a global pandemic?

fabiofzero 7y ago

Let's hope for the best outcome in this case (the one where covid-19 wins).

xiphias2 7y ago
I don't like people dying but in this case he could be a hero: saving millions of lives by them taking the virus seriously

gcbpp 7y ago

some facts for people new to him. fact: he had the same campaign marketer that trump had. Remember Banon? fact: he staged a hilariously fake assassination attempt during the last week before election to avoid debates. fact: his neighbors (literally next door) killed a deputy councilwoman that was causing him political problems, in broad daylight with automatic weapons. he and his son called them on the day but both lied about it. the neighbors are locked up because there were too many cameras to deny, not they didn't try. fact: he is campaigning to close the senate and superior courts, because they are "full of corruption" now, brazil is gearing up for protests because march is a delicate time over there. the news machine is already full steam on this. the opposition is spreading memes about it being good that he will die from the virus, while his supporters (mostly evangelical Christians) are spreading countless though and prayers. every mass starts with a prayer, and praises, to him. my guess: this is a self serving fake news, to both bolsonaro and trump.

reese_john 7y ago
It is literally not a fact that he staged a "hilariously fake assassination attempt". What is a fact, is that your whole post is filled with conspiracy theories. Gentlemen, let's keep this content out of HN.
- gcbpp 7y ago
  will add english sources as I bother to waste time finding them (they are obviously facts unless you get your news via facebook or whatsapp) banon: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon (search for brazil and follow the sources from there) (also note banon already said he pay personal attention to his wikipedia page) the killing: https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/marielle-franco-brazil-assassination-suspect/ https://theintercept.com/2019/01/17/marielle-franco-brazil-a... last right wing president saying ending the separation of powers as suggested by bolsonaro is too dangerous even for him (who sold most state owned companies to foreighn capital and skyrocketed the debt with the FMI) https://mobile.twitter.com/FHC https://mobile.twitter.com/FHC bonus source: he was fined for racist comments https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2017/10/03/jair-bolsonaro-e-condenado-por-discurso-preconceituoso-contra-quilombolas.htm https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2017/1...

pastor_elm 7y ago

Yet somehow Brazil only has 154 reported cases...

gist 7y ago

To state what is obvious you have a person who by nature comes in contact with many people in many situations. (Any many of those they come in contact with also do). So you'd expect them to have a higher probability of getting infected. Not only that but you have a person who specifically might have to avoid not appearing to be 'business as usual' or not wanting offend people by not having a meeting or a visit as planned. That's quite a different standard then most of 'regular' people can in trying to avoid socials situations.

aiphex 7y ago

This thread is devolving and should be removed.

diego_moita 7y ago
I agree. It belongs to a conspiracy theories or advocacy sub-reddit, not to HN.

pelasaco 7y ago

Actually he tested negative. That's what is said in all news in Brazil.. lost in translation or bad intention?

zekrioca 7y ago

It was already reported he tested negative.