Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, tests positive for coronavirus
- Sophie Grégoire Trudeau started having flu-like symptoms after returning from a speaking engagement in Britain
- PM Trudeau will work from home for two weeks under self-isolation but he is not being tested for the disease because he is showing no symptoms
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has tested positive for Covid-19, according to an official statement late Thursday.
The prime minister was meanwhile said to be “in good health with no symptoms”, but as a precautionary measure, he will be in isolation for 14 days.
Grégoire Trudeau was “feeling well, taking the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild”, the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The office had earlier Thursday reported that Grégoire Trudeau came down with flu-like symptoms and was being tested for the disease.
“Following medical recommendations, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was tested for Covid-19 today. The test came back positive. Also following medical advice, she will remain in isolation for the time being,” the later statement said.
But Trudeau himself is not being tested for the disease “on the advice of doctors” because he is not showing symptoms.
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“For the same reason, doctors say there is no risk to those who have been in contact with him lately,” the statement said.
“The Prime Minister will continue to fully assume his duties and will address Canadians tomorrow,” it concluded.
Trudeau will work from home. However, his face-to-face meetings with provincial premiers scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Ottawa had already been cancelled as a result of Grégoire Trudeau being tested for the disease.
They were instead being held by phone.
The earlier statement said Grégoire Trudeau “began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late last night” after returning from a speaking engagement in London.
Neither statement said whether the Trudeaus’ three children were staying home as well.
Canada has more than 140 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, more than double the number from a week ago.
With Manitoba, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan reporting their first presumptive cases in the past 24 hours, seven of Canada’s 10 provinces have recorded Covid-19 contagion.
Additional reporting by Reuters
