Elysee Palace said Macron, 42, was confirmed after being tested “at the beginning of the first signal.”
“According to the usual health rules that apply to all, the President of the Republic will separate himself for 7 days. He will still work and conduct his activities remotely,” the statement said.
First French woman Brigitte Macron, 67, has entered quarantine defensively but has “not shown any symptoms,” her office told French media.
Prime Minister Jean Castex has entered quarantine, despite undergoing a negative test Thursday morning. National Assembly President Richard Ferrand is also quarantined for seven days.
Macron’s trip to Lebanon next week has been canceled.
The French President has had meetings with several other top European leaders in the past few days, and several of them announced their quarantine following Macron ‘s judgment.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Council of Europe President Charles Michel and OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said they would enter quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Here’s what we know about Macron’s recent trends:
- On Wednesday, he met with the Prime Minister of Portugal Costa for lunch, and attended a cabinet meeting, according to the Elysee Palace.
- On Tuesday, Macron met with various people including the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer.
- On Monday, he attended a working lunch at the Elysee marking the 60th anniversary of the organization for cooperation and economic development, where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, Council of Europe President Michel and OECD Secretary General , Angel Gurria.
- Macron also attended the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, and was attended by 25 of the 27 EU leaders (two were absent for Covid-related reasons).
An EU official at the European Council, who is not authorized to discuss the program on protocol measures, told CNN that “hygiene measures have been observed, and we have not been notified of any other partners or employees. present at the summit proved positive. “
Gurria said on Twitter that it was quarantined and tested, and that all relevant steps were being taken to protect the well-being of guests and staff at an OECD event.
Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez tested negative for Covid-19 on Thursday and will quarantine until December 24, according to a statement from his office. He tweeted his “best wishes” to Macron. The European Commission said Michel would enter quarantine “as a warning,” but noted that Michel had tested negative as of Tuesday.
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin tested negative for coronavirus on Thursday afternoon, a government told CNN.
Martin had earlier in the day announced that he was “restricting his movements,” after attending a Council of Europe meeting.
“We are saddened to hear that my friend @EmmanuelMacron has been positive for coronavirus. We all wish you very quickly,” Johnson tweeted Thursday.
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen wished Macron a “speedy recovery”.
France has been locking up since early November. It was due to pick up this week, but this has been delayed as new issues are still well above the target of 5,000 per day that Macron had set as a condition for lifting the restrictions.
France on Wednesday reported 17,615 cases of new coronavirus, the highest number since November 21, bringing it to more than 2.4 million infections since the outbreak began. The country also reported 289 deaths Wednesday, bringing it to a total of 59,361 Covid-19 deaths.
French television showed pictures of protesters and cultural workers protesting across the country on Tuesday after theaters, museums and cinemas did not open as expected. Instead they will be closed for an additional three weeks, Castex said.
The curfew hours between 9pm and 6am were also extended on Tuesdays from 8pm to 6am. However, French citizens will not need certificates to leave their homes, Castex said. They will also be allowed to travel to other regions. Restaurants and cafes are still scheduled to reopen on January 20, 2021.
James Frater from CNN, Saska Vandoorne, Gaëlle Fournier, Al Goodman and Claudia Rebaza made a statement.