Coronavirus: Nine times Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the severity of COVID-19
The Brazilian leader has often spoken out about his opposition to social distancing and said coronavirus is just a "little flu".
Tuesday 7 July 2020 21:28, UK
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus.
Known as the "Trump of the Tropics", Mr Bolsonaro said he began feeling unwell on Sunday and has since produced a positive result.
Sky News has compiled a list of times he has downplayed the pandemic.
11 March
Early in the outbreak, he claimed that other flu outbreaks had killed more people than coronavirus.
"From what I have seen until now, there are other kinds of flu which have killed more people than that one."
18 March
As the world was starting to go into lockdown, he said: "Today we have information, that because we have a more tropical climate we've almost reached the end [of the outbreak], or it's already over... the virus doesn't spread as fast in warm climates like ours".
20 March
Referencing being attacked in 2018, he said: "After being stabbed, I'm not going to be brought down by a little flu".
24 March
He said that if he caught coronavirus, he "wouldn't feel anything".
27 March
When asked about coronavirus, he told reporters: "I'm sorry, some people will die, they will die, that's life".
31 March
He branded governors who imposed quarantine measures in hard-hit areas of Brazil as "job killers".
"When the situation is heading toward chaos, with mass unemployment and hunger, it's fertile ground for some to exploit, seeking a way to reach power and never leave it."
11 April
Flouted social-distancing rules by meeting and shaking hands with supporters, as well as posing for a photo with a group of pharmacists and visiting one of his sons in a residential building.
16 April
Fired his own health adviser over disagreements on self-isolation.
19 April
Joined a protest with his supporters against social-distancing measures, and repeatedly coughed while delivering a speech.
Despite saying the virus was not as bad as it had been made out to be, he did admit to having symptoms over the weekend.
He said on Tuesday: "It started on Sunday with a certain malaise and became worse throughout the day on Monday, feeling poorly, exhaustion, a bit of muscle ache, fever hit 38."
In June, the Brazilian government was accused of attempting to hide the true extent of coronavirus deaths in the country, after it stopped publishing data around fatalities and infections related to COVID-19.