Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. He made the announcement just hours after doctors determined he had pneumonia. 

President Juan Orlando Hernandez
(Photo : Reuters Connect)
FILE PHOTO: Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during a joint message with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acting Secretary Chad Wolf (not pictured), at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa, Honduras January 9, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Cabrera/File Photo

COVID-19 has infected Honduran President Orlando Hernandez amid the pressures he is facing from the United States following the alleged involvement of his brother in drug trafficking. 

According to a recently published article in Reuters, the president's health situation is an added complication to his dealing with the probe on his brother. 

Juan Antonio Hernandez was arrested in November 2018 in Miami according to BBC News. He was convicted on four separate charges including drug conspiracy, importation of cocaine, and weapons in the U.S.

Additionally, his brother's arrest could engulf him and involve him in the illegal activities of his brother. However, Honduran President Orlando Hernandez issued a statement of denial

This adds up to the growing tension in the country after his re-election in late 2017 that was marred in controversy due to a heavily disputed vote count that was widely questioned and caught the attention of the international observers. 

Health Status of the President 

Hernandez is now admitted to a military hospital. Francis Contreras, a spokesman for Honduran health agency SINAGER, said that the president needed special medical attention. 

Contreras also said that Hernandez needs to receive his medicine through an intravenous drip to fight the deadly COVID-19. 

Moreover, Contreras told the reporters outside the military hospital that Hernandez's health status is doing good but his doctors found out that the president's X-rays result showed that he has lung problems. 

Meanwhile, he did not confirm if the lung problems of Hernandez are related to his COVID-19 infection or pre-existing health problem of the president before he was infected. 

Hernandez Does Not Have a Plan to Take a Rest

Despite the COVID-19 infection of the Honduran president and the doctors' recommendation for him to take a rest, he chose instead to work remotely. 

When he announced and confirmed his COVID-19 infection and diagnosis on Tuesday through television, he also said that his symptoms were very mild and he was feeling better. 

Other Prominent Persons Infected for COVID-19

Ana Garcia, Hernandez's wife, also tested positive for COVID-19 along with two presidential aides. Ana Garcia was asymptomatic but tested positive for the virus according to Contreras.

There is a significant number of politicians worldwide who have contracted the virus but only few heads were reported to have caught COVID-19. Two of them are British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the wife of Canada's prime minister. 

Updates of COVID-19 Infections in Honduras

The number of COVID-19 infections in Honduras has already reached more than 10,200 and with a death toll of 336 as of this time according to the data obtained from worldometers. 

The low number of COVID-19 infections and the death toll is due to the strict containment measures of the country. However, not everyone obeyed the lockdown and the figures reported are likely undercounted. 

Despite these low numbers, the country is struggling as the number of cases start to spike in the capital according to a published report in San Antonio Express News.