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With a new coronavirus plaguing the world, no one is safe – not even the most powerful leaders.
The good health of leaders is crucial as citizens look to them for direction and clarity. Yet some of them have taken advantage of the pandemic to consolidate power.
The coronavirus, however, knows no boundaries, religion, nor power. It has attacked populations and spared no one, including some of the world’s most powerful leaders who were notorious for downplaying the deadly disease. Who are they?
Donald Trump, US president
On Friday, October 2, US President and reelection hopeful Donald Trump confirmed in a tweet that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.
The confirmation of their positive test results came a day after Hope Hicks, one of the President’s closest aides, also tested positive for the disease.
While the couple postponed “all upcoming engagements,” Trump’s doctor said he is “well” enough to carry on with his duties while quarantined at the White House. Trump is 74 years old.
As of Thursday, October 1, the United States remains at the top of the list of countries with the most coronavirus cases in the world – with more than 7.2 million confirmed cases, and 206,959 deaths.
Trump earlier admitted he downplayed the seriousness of the disease.
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian president
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus 3 times in July.
The far-right president, 65, has been criticized for his response to the outbreak and for downplaying the dangers of the virus. He compared it to a “little flu” and attacked stay-at-home measures and other guidelines from public health officials.
Until Bolsonaro was infected, he regularly hit the streets without a face mask, and exchanged hugs and handshakes with supporters.
By August, Bolsonaro recovered. Brazil is the country with the third highest number of coronavirus cases, with at least 4.8 million infected and 143,000 dead.
Boris Johnson, UK prime minister
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on March 27 that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Johnson, 55, said he developed mild symptoms and would self-isolate for a week. He recovered about a month later.
The British government’s response to the pandemic garnered criticism, one of the reasons being its priority placed on maintaining the economy. In the first months, the strategy was to allow the virus to spread to build up the population’s herd immunity.
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian president
On July 28, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he caught the coronavirus and recovered on his feet without showing any symptoms.
Lukashenko dismissed fears about COVID-19 as a “psychosis,” and suggested remedies such as drinking vodka, taking saunas, and playing ice hockey. This handling of the pandemic added fuel to the fire when violent protests broke out following his August re-election.
The strongman has been in power since 1994.
Emmanuel Macron, French president
French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on December 17. This prompted contact tracing efforts across Europe, following Macron’s recent meetings with EU heads of government in the days prior to his positive test result.
The President’s aides say he lives a healthy, active lifestyle, and does not smoke. An official described him as tired and having a cough.
At this point, France had one of the highest COVID-19 death counts in Western Europe, with a death toll at almost 60,000. France had replaced a nationwide lockdown with an overnight curfew before Macron tested positive.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Days before Johnson confirmed his illness, the UK’s Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir, tested positive.
A Palace official reported the prince was in good health after self-isolating for a week.
Prince Albert II and Prime Minister Serge Telle of Monaco
Prince Albert II of Monaco tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed in a statement on March 19. The government added there were “no concerns for his health.”
Three days earlier, Monaco’s Prime Minister Serge Telle also announced he had caught the coronavirus.
Albert recovered by April.
Albert is head of the House of Grimaldi that rules Monaco, the world’s second-smallest country.
Juan Orlando Hernandez, Honduran president
Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez announced he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 in a press conference on June 16.
The 51-year-old leader said he would work remotely during treatment [delete ,] and that his symptoms were mild.
The Latin American nation had registered just under 10,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 330 deaths by the time the president was infected.
Jeanine Anez, Bolivian interim president
Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez tweeted her announcement that she was positive with COVID-19 on July 9.
Anez became the second South American president to contract the coronavirus, after Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro announced his first positive result on July 7.
Four members of Anez’s Cabinet also tested positive in the days leading up to her announcement.
Alejandro Giammatei, Guatemalan president
On September 18, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammatei confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19. He told a local radio station he felt well, but during a televised address to the nation, he appeared out of breath as he described his “mild” symptoms.
The government press office said in a statement that the president would isolate from “all public activity” and that communication with him would be conducted remotely.
Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian prime minister
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on June 1 said he and his family had tested positive for the new coronavirus and that he would be working from home.
The ex-Soviet republic with a population of around 3 million people had registered 9,492 coronavirus cases and 139 deaths by the beginning of June.
Milorad Dodik, Bosnian president
Milorad Dodik, the Serb chairman of Bosnia’s 3-man inter-ethnic presidency, tested positive for COVID-19 on December 22. The test result came out after Dodik had been hospitalized over nausea and stomach pains.
The Banja Luka University Clinical Center said Dodik was diagnosed with pneumonia on top of his coronavirus infection.
The clinic said Dodik was in stable condition. – with reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters/Rappler.com
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