French President Emmanuel Macron infected with coronavirus
- Macron will self-isolate but continue to work and carry out duties remotely
- Macron’s wife Brigitte and French PM Jean Castex will also be self-isolating
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“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. He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely,” it said.
The president will cancel all his forthcoming trips, including a scheduled visit to Lebanon.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex will self-isolate after contact with Macron, his office said.
02:27
Coronavirus: French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19
It said the premier shows no symptoms but will no longer be going to the French Senate on Thursday to outline his government’s vaccine strategy to combat Covid-19.
Macron’s wife Brigitte will also be self-isolating but also shows no symptoms, her office said.
Parliament speaker Richard Ferrand is also self-isolating after contact with Macron, his office said.
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“Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery,” Johnson said on Twitter. He also posted the same message in French.
The presidency said Macron was trying to assess where he could have contracted the virus. He was at a European Council heads of state meeting on December 10-11.
His schedule over the last week has also included a private dinner with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during which he awarded him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
He also has had lunch this week with European leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen as well as the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers. Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez’s office said he has suspended all public activities and will quarantine until December 24.
European Council President Michel and Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa are also in self-isolation, officials said on Thursday. Von der Leyen “has no plan on self-isolating,” a European Commission spokesman said. Macron was seen shaking hands with OECD chief Angel Gurria.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel tested negative for Covid-19 after last week’s EU summit at which she met Macron, a spokeswoman said.
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.
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The recording of over 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 on Wednesday the country will receive around 1.16 million Covid-19 vaccine doses by year end.
Castex said that the start of the vaccine campaign was conditional on approval from the European Medicines Agency, expected on December 21.
“It is only at the end of spring that we will open the vaccination programme to the entire population,” he added.
Another problem for the French authorities is that according to an opinion poll, only 53 per cent of people want to be vaccinated, among the lowest rates in the world.
Additional reporting by Reuters
