Brazilian president’s press secretary tests positive for coronavirus
Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, two sources have told CNN. Bolsonaro’s health is being monitored.
It comes just days after Wajngarten met US President Donald Trump in Florida.
Trump was in close physical proximity with the Wajngarten Saturday night, two people familiar tell CNN.
The Brazilian press secretary attended the dinner Trump hosted at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, took a photo with the US President and later stood feet away from Trump as he spoke during Kimberly Guilfoyle’s birthday, the sources said.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham issued a statement Thursday saying: “Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.”
She added: “The White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy.”
Bolsonaro’s aide also posted an image of himself standing with Trump and US Vice President Mike Pence at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend.
He was accompanying Bolsonaro on a trip to the US, during which the two leaders dined together. Earlier in the day, the pair had spoken to reporters about the coronavirus outbreak.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Trump told the press. He had been asked about his attendance at the CPAC conference, where another person also tested positive for coronavirus.
Trump said he was aware of the aide’s diagnosis during remarks in the Oval Office on Thursday.
“We did nothing very unusual, we sat next to each other for a period of time,” he added, referring to Bolsonaro.
Trump on Wednesday announced sweeping travel bans for people coming into the United States from mainland Europe, as his administration attempts to tackle the ongoing pandemic.