French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19. The French presidency said on Thursday, although it was not immediately clear where he had contracted the virus.
“The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today,” his office said in a statement. “This diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms.”
Macron’s office said he would isolate for the next seven days and would continue to run the country remotely. A spokeswoman said that all his trips had been canceled, including an upcoming visit to Lebanon on December 22.
French President Macron’s positive test comes just two days after France relaxed measures to curb a second wave of COVID-19, replacing a nationwide lockdown with a curfew.
Health authorities on Wednesday reported the highest increase in cases since November 21.
Macron is the latest head of state to contract the virus. US President Donald Trump tested positive in October.
The French presidency said Macron and his team were trying to assess where he could have contracted the virus.
Macron & the Muslim world
Muslim world was recently united against France for its anti-Muslim stance. Meanwhile, many countries even branded President Macron as ‘devil’ for hurting Muslims’ sentiments. France decided to close at least 76 mosques in ‘massive and strong action’ against Muslims.
Therefore, some of the reactions on Twitter over his illness are pretty harsh.
Macron was at a European Council heads of state meeting on December 10-11. His schedule over the last week has also included a private dinner with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during which he awarded him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. He also has had lunch this week with European leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen as well as the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers.
He was seen shaking hands with OECD chief Angel Gurria.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will also self isolate after coming into contact with Macron over the last few days, said Gerard Larcher, head of the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament.
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