<p>A key player in Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government, National Security Minister Augusto Heleno, said on Wednesday he had tested positive for the new <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a>.</p>.<p>The retired army general, whose job includes running the intelligence services, is the latest in a string of Brazilian officials to be diagnosed with COVID-19 following a presidential trip to the United States during which they met President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/coronavirus-updates-live-four-dead-in-china-hotel-collapse-quater-of-italy-population-put-under-lockdown-799686.html#1" target="_blank">Track live updates on the coronavirus here</a></p>.<p>"The result of my second test... came back positive. I am awaiting the results of a follow-up test," Heleno, the former head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, wrote on Twitter.</p>.<p>"I do not have a fever or any other symptom associated with COVID-19. I am in isolation at home and will not answer phone calls," added the 72-year-old minister.</p>.<p>Bolsonaro has tested negative for the virus, as has Trump, the far-right leader's political role-model.</p>.<p>Both presidents have faced criticism over their handling of the pandemic.</p>.<p>Bolsonaro has repeatedly condemned what he calls the "hysteria" surrounding the virus, and shook hands and took selfies with supporters at a rally Sunday, ignoring his own health ministry's advice to isolate himself because of his contact with infected officials.</p>.<p>He said Tuesday his second test for COVID-19 had also come back negative.</p>.<p>Under Brazilian health ministry protocol, he is supposed to take a final test in one week's time and remain in isolation until then.</p>.<p>But he has shown no indication he plans to follow the recommendation, saying he will throw himself a 65th birthday party Saturday.</p>.<p>Brazil -- the biggest country in Latin America, with 210 million people -- has confirmed 291 coronavirus cases. It reported its first death from the virus Tuesday. </p>
<p>A key player in Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government, National Security Minister Augusto Heleno, said on Wednesday he had tested positive for the new <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a>.</p>.<p>The retired army general, whose job includes running the intelligence services, is the latest in a string of Brazilian officials to be diagnosed with COVID-19 following a presidential trip to the United States during which they met President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/coronavirus-updates-live-four-dead-in-china-hotel-collapse-quater-of-italy-population-put-under-lockdown-799686.html#1" target="_blank">Track live updates on the coronavirus here</a></p>.<p>"The result of my second test... came back positive. I am awaiting the results of a follow-up test," Heleno, the former head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, wrote on Twitter.</p>.<p>"I do not have a fever or any other symptom associated with COVID-19. I am in isolation at home and will not answer phone calls," added the 72-year-old minister.</p>.<p>Bolsonaro has tested negative for the virus, as has Trump, the far-right leader's political role-model.</p>.<p>Both presidents have faced criticism over their handling of the pandemic.</p>.<p>Bolsonaro has repeatedly condemned what he calls the "hysteria" surrounding the virus, and shook hands and took selfies with supporters at a rally Sunday, ignoring his own health ministry's advice to isolate himself because of his contact with infected officials.</p>.<p>He said Tuesday his second test for COVID-19 had also come back negative.</p>.<p>Under Brazilian health ministry protocol, he is supposed to take a final test in one week's time and remain in isolation until then.</p>.<p>But he has shown no indication he plans to follow the recommendation, saying he will throw himself a 65th birthday party Saturday.</p>.<p>Brazil -- the biggest country in Latin America, with 210 million people -- has confirmed 291 coronavirus cases. It reported its first death from the virus Tuesday. </p>