New COVID-19 cases emerge among Brazil's delegation to UN
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro greets his fans during a demonstration in his support in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 7, 2021. (AFP Photo)


A new positive COVID-19 case was reported among Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's delegation to the United Nations, the CEO of state lender Caixa Economica Federal said on his one of his social media accounts on Sunday.

Pedro Guimaraes, who said he was fully vaccinated, is the fourth member of the delegation that was with Bolsonaro in New York for his address to the United Nations to test positive.

He said he is asymptomatic, but has been isolated since Wednesday, when he returned to Brazil from New York.

Health minister Marcelo Queiroga, Bolsonaro's son Eduardo and one diplomat also tested positive for COVID-19. Queiroga, diagnosed during the visit, is still in isolation in a New York hotel.

The president said on Sunday he had a negative result in a COVID-19 test. Since the arrival to Brazil, all members of Bolsonaro's delegation are in isolation and have taken tests due to contact with the health minister.

Right-wing populist Bolsonaro has played down the coronavirus from the start and repeatedly speaks out against the use of masks and other containment measures.

Brazil has registered 8,668 new COVID-19 cases and 243 new deaths, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Its pandemic death toll has now reached 594,443.