Brazilian official diagnosed with coronavirus met with Trump

Trump said he is not concerned that Bolsonaro is being monitored for the virus after he met with him in Florida last week.

By REUTERS

MARCH 13, 2020 07:23

U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a photo-op with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro before attending a working dinner at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/TOM BRENNER) — U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a photo-op with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro before attending a working dinner at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2020

(photo credit: REUTERS/TOM BRENNER)

BRASILIA - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, has been diagnosed with coronavirus following a second confirmatory test, the presidency's communications office said on Thursday.

Wajngarten attended an official meeting at US President's Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the US president has tested positive for coronavirus, the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said on Thursday.

In the photo posted on his Instagram account, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a "Make Brazil great again" cap. Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

Brazil's press minister Fabio Wajngarten (on the right) has tested positive for Coronavirus. He’s pictured next to Donald trump at Mar a Lago on Saturday #Brazil #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/oB2jKDVKiL
— CNW (@ConflictsW) March 12, 2020

Bolsonaro himself is meanwhile is being monitored for coronavirus, O Estado de S. Paulo reported on Thursday, without citing sources.

Bolsonaro returned this week from a visit to the United States where he met with Trump.

"Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned," Trump told reporters while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

He said he had heard about the aide's exposure but that "we did nothing very unusual."

Trump also said he and Varadkar opted not to shake hands when the Irish leader arrived at the White House for the traditional St. Patrick's Day meeting.

"It's a very strange feeling," Trump said of not shaking hands.