PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, the presidency said on Thursday (Dec 17), although it was not clear at this stage where he had contracted the virus.
"The president tested positive for COVID-19 today (Thursday)," it said in a statement, adding he had been tested after the "onset of the first symptoms".
Macron will now, in accordance with national regulations, "self isolate for seven days", it said, adding that he will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely.
A spokeswoman said that all his trips had been cancelled, including an upcoming visit to Lebanon on Dec 22.
They added he was trying to assess where he could have contracted the virus.
Macron was at a European Council heads of state meeting on Dec 10 to Dec 11.
READ: France may start COVID-19 vaccinations in last week of December: PM
His schedule over the last week has also included a private dinner with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during which Macron awarded him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
The French president also had lunch this week with European leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers.
He was seen shaking hands with OECD chief Angel Gurria.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will also self isolate after coming into contact with Macron over the last few days, said Gerard Larcher, head of the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will also quarantine until Dec 24, his office said in a statement. The two leaders had met on Monday in Paris.
Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa, too, will self-isolate after meeting Macron, his office said in a statement. He has cancelled official trips to Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau scheduled between Dec 18 and 20, though "he will keep all executive activities and work schedule, which will be carried out remotely", the statement said.
Michel, the president of the European Council, decided to self-isolate as a precaution.
Von der Leyen said she "has no plan on self-isolating", however, according to a European Commission spokesman. The Commission head's meeting with Macron did not constitute a close contact that required self-isolation by the standards of French authorities, the spokesman added.
The French president is one of several heads of state and government around the world who have contracted COVID-19, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump.
Johnson sent his best wishes to Macron on Thursday after the French president tested positive for COVID-19.
"Sorry to hear my friend Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery," Johnson wrote on Twitter. He also posted the same message in French.
France earlier this week eased restrictions imposed to battle the second wave of the coronavirus but infection rates remain high.
READ: France's new COVID-19 cases up, hospitalisations resume downward trend
There is still a nationwide overnight curfew from 8pm to halt the spread of the virus while restaurants and cafes as well as theatres and cinemas remain closed.
More than 59,300 people have died in France of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to official figures.
The recording of more than 17,000 new cases on Wednesday alone has also generated concern as people shop and travel more intensely ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Like other EU states, France is pinning its hopes on a vaccine to quell the virus and Castex said Wednesday the country will receive around 1.16 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by year-end.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9jb3ZpZC0xOS1mcmFuY2UtcHJlc2lkZW50LW1hY3Jvbi10ZXN0cy1wb3NpdGl2ZS0xMzc5MTc1NtIBAA?oc=5
2020-12-17 12:11:15Z
52781245881249
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar