PARIS (AP) – As French President Emmanuel Macron rides a coronavirus in solitary confinement at Versailles, critics on Friday called for slip-ups in their virus-prevention behavior, for a handful of repeated large group meals in nearby quarters. Last week.
Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovich, a fellow European leader who spent time with Macron at the EU summit last week, tested positive for the virus on Friday. Some other leaders present at the summit reported the test to be negative, while some were not getting the tests and others did not disclose the results from their tests.
In France, Maron Kroen has faced criticism for actions that were seen as bad examples as the country sees a new surge in confirmed cases and doctors warn families to be careful this holiday season – especially at the dinner table.
While MacCrone usually wears a mask and adheres to the rules of social distance, and insists that his virus strategy is driven by science, the 42-year-old president has been imprisoned in France in recent days for violating his own guidelines.
At Monday’s meeting, he shook hands with the head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Angel Guria, and hugged him halfway. Both were masked, but Macron’s office fee admitted on Friday that the move was a “mistake.”
Last week, Macron spent two days in intense talks with leaders of 26 other EU countries at the EU summit in Brussels. Video excerpts released by the EU show that the leaders are spread out in a circle in a large hall – Macron and most of the other leaders, not masked.
Maron Crown also hosted or attended multiple large-group meals in the days before Thursday’s positive test, which included members of his centrist party and rival politicians, while the French are currently advised to avoid gatherings of more than six people. His office is contacting attendees for a fee meal, but some people sitting away from the president said they were not considered at risk.
Macron suffers from fever, cough and fatigue, presidential officials said Friday. He did not give details of his treatment. He is being held at the presidential residence of La Lanlanterni in the former royal city of Versailles, with people under tight security by the police.
Macron’s positive test has come as French health authorities are increasing the infection again and warning more as French families prepare to come together for the Christmas and New Year festivities. France reported another 18,254 new infections on Thursday, with the death toll just below 60,000.
France’s Pasteur Institute published a study on Friday that suggests meal times at home and in public are a major source of contamination. Pasteur epidemiologist Ar Arnaud Fontanet said on France-Inter radio on Friday that during the holidays, we can see each other, not just many, and at crucial moments during meals, not many people at the same table. “
In line with the recommendations of national health officials, Macron took a test on Thursday morning “as soon as the first symptoms appeared” and will commit suicide for seven days, the president said. Macron plans to continue working, and proceeded with a speech hosted by video conference on Thursday.
The French health minister suggested that Macron would have been infected at the EU summit in Brussels last week, but Macron also got several seats in Paris.
France had Europe’s first case of the virus in January, but Macron’s government came under criticism for not doing enough masks or tests and not quickly limiting the population. Two months of severe lockdowns reduced the infection, and France sent the children back to school and sent their parents back to work.
But the infection resurfaced this fall so it announced a new, solid lockdown in October, aimed at relieving pressure on hospitals. Measures were eased a bit this week, although rest restaurants, rentals, tourist sites, gyms and some other facilities are closed.
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Karel Janicek in Prague, Catherine Geshcha in Paris and Raf Cassaret in Brussels contributed.
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