AGENCIES, Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms and will self-isolate for a week, his office said on Thursday.
The Elysee Palace said in a statement that Macron, 42, was diagnosed after he was tested “at the onset of the first symptoms…In accordance with current health regulations applicable to all, the President of the Republic will isolate himself for 7 days. He continues to work and carry out his activities remotely”.
The French President had meetings with a number of other top European leaders in recent days, several of whom announced they would quarantine in the wake of Macron’s diagnosis. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council president Charles Michel said they would go into quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Macron’s planned trip to Lebanon next week has been canceled, and French Prime Minister Jean Castex has gone into quarantine.
On Wednesday, Macron met Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa for lunch, and attended a cabinet meeting, according to the Elysee Palace. On Tuesday, Macron met with various people including the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer.
On Monday, the French President attended a working lunch at the Elysee marking the 60th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, European Council president Michel and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria.
Macron was also at the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, which was attended by EU leaders.
Spain’s foreign ministry said Sanchez would immediately take a test and quarantine for a week. A European Commission spokesman said Michel would go into quarantine as a precaution, but noted that Michel had tested negative as recently as Tuesday.
Macron is the latest major world leader to test positive for the coronavirus. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, key French allies, were both hospitalized after contracting the virus earlier in the pandemic.
