Bolsonaro tests negative for COVID-19

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro announced that he has tested negative for the COVID-19, more than two weeks after he was first diagnosed on 7 July.

The coronaviruss-sceptic president made the announcement on Saturday via social media, where he posted a photo in which he is seen having breakfast at the Alvorada Palace, the presidential residence in Brasilia, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the photo, he appeared with a box of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug he credited for his recovery despite a lack of scientific evidence about its effectiveness.

Bolsonaro announced that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus on 7 July, and he thereafter went into isolation at Alvorada Palace while recovering from the disease.

According to official information, Bolsonaro underwent four COVID-19 tests in 18 days and tested positive thrice.

Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world.

As of Sunday, the country registered a total of 2,394,513 infections and 86,449 deaths.

Despite the rising numbers, Bolsonaro has argued that regional lockdowns were having a more damaging effect on the economy than the virus itself, and accused the media of spreading panic and paranoia.