French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19, the main Elysee Palace announced Thursday.
The brief statement did not comment on the symptoms experienced by Macron, but said he would separate himself for seven days.
Macron is emerging as the latest edition to a growing list of world leaders and politicians who have now been contracted from the coronavirus.
The coronavirus outbreak has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, with the worldwide death toll from the virus exceeding a gruesome milestone of more than 1.6 million, with more than 74.6 million cases recorded worldwide.
Here is a list of well-proven world leaders:
Donald and Melania Trump: The U.S. president said on Twitter on October 2 that he and the first woman contracted the virus while in quarantine.
For months, Trump has been accused of putting down the virus that has killed more than 300,000 Americans.
At 74, the U.S. president was the oldest head of state to catch the virus to date, and his age put him at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19. Trump was in the hospital for three days, and after making a dramatic return to the White House, he continued to reduce the severity of the virus.
Boris Johnson: The 55-year-old Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said on March 27 that he tested positive for coronavirus and was self-absorbed.
He was hospitalized on April 5 in what his office described as a “precautionary measure”. Johnson was transferred to the intensive care unit on April 6 after his symptoms worsened. He later thanked National Health Service staff for saving his life when his condition could have “gone on all sides”.
Jair Bolsonaro: The president of Brazil declared his illness in July and used it to publicly dispense hydroxychloroquine, the undiagnosed malaria drug that he had been promoting as a treatment for COVID-19 and was self taking.
For months he had been infected with the virus, described it as “a little flu”, as it traveled a social distance at lively shows and encouraged large crowds on trips from the main residence, to often without a mask.
Riek Machar: South Sudan’s vice president and his wife Angelina Teny, who is serving as defense minister, tested positive for the coronavirus on May 18.
South Sudanese vice-president Riek Machar [File: Samir Bol/Reuters]
Alexander Lukashenko: The president of Belarus, who dismissed concerns about the virus as “psychosis” and recommended drinking vodka to stay healthy, said in July that he had contracted himself but was asymptomatic.
Belarus is one of the few countries that has not taken complete measures against the virus.
Juan Orlando Hernandez: The president of Honduras announced in June that he had passed a positive test, along with two other people who worked closely with him.
Hernandez said he started what he called the “MAIZ treatment,” an experimental and unproven combination of microdacyn, azithromycin, ivermectin and zinc. She was hospitalized shortly and discharged.
He has added his voice to growing protests for equitable access to any COVID-19 vaccine, calling on the recent gathering of world leaders at the UN, “Are people going to be die? “
Bonnie Prince Charlie: The prince of Wales and heir to the British throne confirmed positive for the coronavirus on 25 March.
Prince Albert: Prince Albert II of Monaco tested positive for the coronavirus novel in March.
Silvio Berlusconi: The former Italian prime minister had a positive test for COVID-19 on September 2 with two of his children.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak during question time at the House of Commons in London, UK December 9, 2020 [File: Jessica Taylor/Handout/Reuters]
Ali larijani: Iran ‘s parliament said on April 2 that its spokesperson confirmed positive for the coronavirus.
Mikhail mishustin: The Russian Prime Minister said on April 30 in a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin that he has tested positive for coronavirus and will be self-sufficient to protect other cabinet members.
Nikol Pashinyan: The Prime Minister of Armenia revealed on June 1 that he and his family have been positive for the virus.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau: On March 12, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed positive for COVID-19 after a visit to the UK.
Ambrose Dlamini: The Prime Minister of eSwatini, the last complete monarchy in Africa, died in a hospital in South Africa on December 14, the only sitting director from COVID-19.