18 Dec

European leaders who had been in recent contact with Emmanuel Macron are self-isolating after the French president tested positive for the coronavirus.

France's presidential office announced on Thursday that Macron exhibited early symptoms of COVID-19 and a subsequent PCR test result was positive.

It said the president has started a seven-day period of self-isolation and will continue to perform his duties remotely. Macron took part in an event via video link after the announcement.

European leaders who had contact with Macron are going into self-isolation. 

They include Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, and European Council President Charles Michel.

Macron held a dinner meeting on Wednesday with more than a dozen people, including senior ruling party members and high-ranking officials of the presidential office. Prime Minister Jean Castex and National Assembly President Richard Ferrand have also started a seven-day quarantine.

Local media have quoted sources as saying that safe social distancing and other precautionary measures were in place at the dinner.

However questions are being raised about whether it was prudent to hold the gathering at a time when the government is calling on the public to avoid dining in groups of seven or more people.

NHK