Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down risks of what he has called the "little flu", saying he would not be seriously affected. He has opposed lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy. Brazil has the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the world, after the US.

Back in April, Mr Bolsonaro said that even if infected, he would "not have to worry as I wouldn't feel anything, at most it would be like a little flu or a little cold". The number of Covid-19-related deaths and infections - at that time under 3,000 and 40,000 - has since soared. Despite this, President Bolsonaro has argued that regional lockdowns are having a more damaging effect than the virus itself, and accused the media of spreading panic and paranoia.

He has attended a number of public events without a mask, even when local rules required him to wear one. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo posted a photo on social media showing himself with President Bolsonaro and others attending an Independence Day celebration at the US embassy in Brasilia. None of those in the photo is wearing a mask or observing social distancing.