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As French President Emmanuel Macron got rid of the Corona virus at a presidential compound in Versailles, French doctors warned families heading for the holidays to be careful, due to the increase in infections, especially at the table.
And while Macron routinely wears a mask and adheres to social distancing rules, he hosted or participated in multiple group meals in the days leading up to his positive test on Thursday.
Presidential officials said Friday that Macron had a fever, cough and fatigue, and did not provide details about his treatment. Macron resides in the presidential residence at La Lanterne, the former royal city of Versailles, and the French first lady, who tested positive for a crown, remained at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Macron’s positive test comes at a time of rising infections, and French health authorities warn of more as French families prepare to reunite for Christmas and New Year celebrations. France reported 18,254 new infections on Thursday, bringing the death toll to just under 60,000.
The French Pasteur Institute published a study on Friday indicating that meals at home and in public places are a major source of contamination. “We can see each other, just not in large numbers, and at critical meal times, not many people are at the same table,” Pasteur’s epidemiologist Arnaud Fontane said on Radio France-Inter on Friday.
Macron’s aides were quick to contact everyone he had mingled with in recent days, with the French health minister indicating he could have been injured at the European Union summit in Brussels last week, but Macron he also held several meetings in Paris.
In a brief statement, the presidency said that Macron conducted a test “as soon as the first symptoms appeared” on Thursday morning and would isolate himself for seven days, in line with the recommendations of the national health authorities. The statement added that the 42-year-old president “will continue to work and monitor his activities remotely.” By giving his speech via video link on Thursday.
