French president Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for coronavirus, his office said on Thursday.
According to the Elysee palace, he sought a test on Thursday as soon as he began showing symptoms of the virus and will now self-isolate for seven days.
The short statement did not elaborate on what symptoms Mr Macron had, but added the president would continue working remotely from his self-isolation throughout. It is not yet known how the 42-year-old caught the virus.
The positive test came after a week in which Mr Macron had met with dozens of senior political figures across Europe, including the heads of the EU Council and Commission, and the prime ministers of Spain and Portugal, arousing fears the president could become an accidental Covid super-spreader among the continent’s rulers.
A number of leaders have announced they will now begin self-isolation after coming in touch with Mr Macron.
Mr Macron’s infection came just as France was easing out of its latest lockdown, with new cases now running around 11,000 a day, down from their recent spike of 86,000 in early November.
The Independent
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