Canada’s Justin Trudeau tests positive for coronavirus

The 50-year-old leader, who is vaccinated and boosted, does not have severe symptoms and will continue working remotely

Trudeau urged Canadians to get jabbed, even as the capital Ottawa was hit by mass protests led by Canadian truckers opposed to vaccine mandates

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Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa in October. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:50am, 1 Feb 2022Updated: 4:54am, 1 Feb 2022

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday he has tested positive for Covid-19, while calling out truckers protesting against vaccine mandates.

“I feel well and have no symptoms,” the 50-year-old premier told a news conference.

Trudeau had announced last week he was isolating after being exposed to the coronavirus. Two of his three children have also since tested positive, he said.

Trudeau, who received his third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in January, urged Canadians to get vaccinated and boosted, as the nation battles a rise in cases and hospitalisations due to the Omicron variant.

Truckers and other protesters taking part in the “Freedom Convoy” against vaccine mandates when crossing the US-Canada border block the street in front of the Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

He will not be physically present for the return of parliament on Monday after a winter break, saying he would be “working remotely this week and keep following public health guidelines”.

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