Brasilia, July 7 (RHC)-- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been tested for the coronavirus, having reportedly shown symptoms, and the results have come back as positive.

Following months of downplaying the severity of the disease despite the country's skyrocketing death toll, media sources reported Monday that the president personally told its reporters he was suffering from symptoms of the coronavirus, including a fever.

The presidential palace confirmed that a test took place after he felt unwell and on Monday was running a fever of about 100.4 degrees.  The statement added Bolsonaro was at home and “in good health.” 

On Tuesday, the test results came back positive.

In April, Bolsonaro fired his highly-respected health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who openly contradicted him over the need for social distancing.  Bolsonaro has repeatedly spoken against measures including lockdown and social distancing, citing the economic costs.

The nation's doctors have also urged the government for more stringent lockdown restrictions to prevent further infection spread, particularly in parts of the country already lacking in sufficient health resources.

Like U.S. President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro also endorsed the use of hydroxychloroquine — a malaria drug — to treat the novel coronavirus, despite a lack of scientific evidence and concerns about serious side effects.

Before showing symptoms of an illness, Bolsonaro spent the Fourth of July at the U.S. Ambassador's residence.  A photo shared on Bolsonaro's Facebook page showed that they were not social distancing nor wearing masks.