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French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for Covid-19, the presidential Elysee Palace announced on Thursday (local time).
He said the president had a test “as soon as the first symptoms appeared.” The short statement did not say what symptoms Macron experienced.
He said he would isolate himself for seven days. “He will continue working and taking care of his activities remotely,” he added.
Thibault Camus / AP
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has Covid-19.
It was not immediately clear what contact tracing efforts were in progress. Macron attended a European Union summit late last week, where he had a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He met with the prime minister of Portugal on Wednesday. There were no immediate comments from Portuguese officials.
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Macron also held the weekly government cabinet meeting on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Jean Castex and other ministers. Castex’s office said the prime minister will also isolate himself for seven days.
The French presidency confirmed that Macron’s trip to Lebanon scheduled for next week will be canceled.
Macron and other government officials repeatedly say they adhere to strict health protocols during the pandemic, including not shaking hands, wearing a mask and keeping a distance from others.
Macron is following the recommendations of the French health authorities that since September have reduced the time of self-isolation from 14 days to seven. The authorities said at the time that this is the period in which there is a greater risk of contagion and that reducing it allows a better application of the measure.
French health authorities argued this week that the 14-day quarantine was not well respected by many in the country who considered it too long.
