A press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly contracted the Wuhan Virus, Brazilian media first reported. The official, Fabio Wajngarten, was in close contact with President Trump in recent days as part of a Brazilian diplomatic visit to the United States.
Bolsonaro's press secretary can be seen standing next to the president, wearing a Make Brazil Great Again hat, in a picture taken at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort this past week. The press aide posted the photo of himself standing next to the president on Instagram.
The Brazilian newspaper @Estadao now also reporting that Wajngarten tested positive for Covid-19. Here was Bolsonaro’s Communications chief (who yesterday cursed the @folha reporter who broke the news that he returned with symptoms) with Trump & Pence last week at Mar-a-Lago: pic.twitter.com/v07UxfdwxY
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 12, 2020
During a press conference on Thursday, Trump was asked about his interaction with the Brazilian official who has since tested positive for the Wuhan Virus, according to reports.
"I did hear something about that," Trump responded. "We had dinner together in Florida, at Mar-a-Lago, with the entire delegation. I don't know -- the press said he was there -- if he was there, he was there."
Asked for more details, Trump told reporters he wasn't too worried about it.
"Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned," Trump said.
President @realDonaldTrump responds to a question about a report that a press aide to President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil may have #COVID19 and that he may have had contact with the individual: "Let's put it this way, I'm not concerned." pic.twitter.com/nWtYFPOd6n
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 12, 2020
The president has reassured Americans to remain calm amid growing concern over the spread of the foreign virus which originated in China. It's advice the president himself appears to be following given his reaction to the news about his own possible exposure to the virus.