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Agence France-Presse

French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19, the presidency said on Thursday, adding he would now self-isolate for the next week.
“The president tested positive for Covid-19 today (Thursday),” it said in a statement, adding he had been tested after the “onset of the first symptoms”.
Macron will now, in accordance with national regulations, “self-isolate for seven days. He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely,” it said.
The president will cancel all his forthcoming trips, including a scheduled visit to Lebanon.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex will self-isolate after contact with Macron, his office said.


It said the premier shows no symptoms but will no longer be going to the French Senate on Thursday to outline his government’s vaccine strategy to combat Covid-19.
Macron’s wife Brigitte will also be self-isolating but also shows no symptoms, her office said.
Parliament speaker Richard Ferrand is also self-isolating after contact with Macron, his office said.
Ex-French president Giscard d’Estaing dies of Covid-19 at 94
The French president is one of several heads of state and government around the world who have contracted Covid-19, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump.
“Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery,” Johnson said on Twitter. He also posted the same message in French.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he hoped the French leader would recover soon.
The presidency said Macron was trying to assess where he could have contracted the virus. He was at a European Council heads of state meeting on December 10-11.

Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 17, 2020

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. Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez’s office said he has suspended all public activities and will quarantine until December 24.
European Council President Michel and Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa are also in self-isolation, officials said on Thursday. Von der Leyen “has no plan on self-isolating,” a European Commission spokesman said. Macron was seen shaking hands with OECD chief Angel Gurria.
Xi Jinping tells Emmanuel Macron he hopes Europe can be positive about China
German Chancellor Angela Merkel tested negative for Covid-19 after last week’s EU summit at which she met Macron, a spokeswoman said.
France earlier this week eased restrictions imposed to battle the second wave of the coronavirus but infection rates remain high.
There is still a nationwide overnight curfew from 8pm to halt the spread of the virus while restaurants and cafes as well as theatres and cinemas remain closed.


Over 59,300 people have died in France of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to official figures.
The recording of over 17,000 new cases on Wednesday alone has also generated concern as people shop and travel more intensely ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Like other EU states, France is pinning its hopes on a vaccine to quell the virus and Castex said on Wednesday the country will receive around 1.16 million Covid-19 vaccine doses by year end.
Castex said that the start of the vaccine campaign was conditional on approval from the European Medicines Agency, expected on December 21.
“It is only at the end of spring that we will open the vaccination programme to the entire population,” he added.
Another problem for the French authorities is that according to an opinion poll, only 53 per cent of people want to be vaccinated, among the lowest rates in the world.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Coronavirus pandemic

French President Emmanuel Macron infected with coronavirus

French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP

Ex-French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing dies of Covid-19 at 94

Former French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing attends the debate of the new European constitution in Berlin in May 2005. Photo: AP

FILE - In this June 28, 1979 file photo French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, left, confers with German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, in Tokyo. Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the president of France from 1974 to 1981 who became a champion of European integration, has died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at the age of 94, his office and the French presidency said. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Jan,5, 1978 file photo, President Jimmy Carter walks with French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing at Omaha Beach, Normandy, in France. Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the president of France from 1974 to 1981 who became a champion of European integration, has died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at the age of 94, his office and the French presidency said. (AP Photo, File)

Parts of Europe to ease coronavirus rules to allow Christmas shopping, gathering

A worker places a model of a Christmas Nutcracker outside the entrance of the hotel in Glasgow. Photo: PA Wire/dpa

(201120) -- BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Workers install a Christmas tree at the Grand Place of Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 19, 2020. This year's Christmas tree is 18m high, and will be decorated in the theme of 'renewal'. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

epa08846627 Staff prepare to reopen a store, in Cannes, France, 27 November 2020. French President Macron announced that all stores can reopen starting 28 November after several weeks of lockdown which were to combat a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. EPA-EFE/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

27 November 2020, Spain, Malaga: People walk through central Larios street as Christmas lights switched on in Malaga. Malaga will not celebrate its traditional sound and light show due to the Coronavirus restrictions. Photo: Álex Zea/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

A woman walks past Christmas wreaths displayed for sale in Denny, Scotland. Photo: PA Wire/dpa

News

World

Europe

Coronavirus


Macron will self-isolate but continue to work and carry out duties remotely
Macron’s wife Brigitte and French PM Jean Castex will also be self-isolating



French President Emmanuel Macron infected with coronavirus

Macron will self-isolate but continue to work and carry out duties remotely Macron’s wife Brigitte and French PM Jean Castex will also be self-isolating

Macron will self-isolate but continue to work and carry out duties remotely

Macron’s wife Brigitte and French PM Jean Castex will also be self-isolating