French President Emmanuel Macron was diagnosed positively for COVID-19 today, according to a statement from the French government.
In accordance with the sanitary rules in force, and applicable to all, the President of the Republic will isolate himself for seven days. He will continue to work and exercise his activities at a distance," said the Élysée Palace, headquarters of the presidency
According to the Élysée Palace, it is not yet known how Macron contracted the disease, however, he has had several public activities in recent weeks.
The news that French President Emamnuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 has worried several European leaders because the Frenchman was in contact with several people during last week's European Council meeting.
European Council President Charles Michel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa have already been quarantined.
In particular, Charles Michel was placed in self-isolation for precautionary reasons because he had met with the French president on Monday, an EU spokesman said today. He is being tested regularly and was tested negative on Tuesday.
However, for precautionary reasons, the president will be placed in self-isolation, the spokesman added.
At the same time, Sánchez announced that he is suspending all his public obligations and will remain in self-isolation because he has come in contact with Macron, his office announced.
Sánchez and Macron met in Paris on Monday.
Video from the meeting shows both leaders wearing masks and not shaking hands. Sánchez, whose wife was infected with COVID-19 in March, will be tested.
At the same time, French Prime Minister Jean Castex is isolating himself, "although he does not show any symptoms of the disease."
Therefore, he will not go to the Senate, where he was expected to present today the vaccination strategy of the government, as he had done during the previous National Assembly.
He summoned Senate President Gerard Larse to apologize for his absence. Another contact of the head of state, the president of the National Assembly Richard Ferran was also isolated, according to an announcement of the presidency of the House.
Macron's wife, Brigitte, "shows no symptoms", her office clarified. She tested negative for COVID-19 the day before yesterday, before visiting a pediatric ward at St. Louis Hospital in Paris.
This article first partially appeared in Greek on Ethnos.
