Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tested positive for COVID-19, said a statement posted on the official website of the Portuguese Presidency on Monday night.
Rebelo de Sousa had tested negative yesterday, and although today s antigen test is negative, it was now known, at 9:40 p.m., that the PCR test was positive, the statement said, referring to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
The 72-year-old president, who is asymptomatic, has informed Portugal s parliament president, prime minister and minister of health, said the statement, adding that Rebelo de Sousa is working at the Belem Presidential Palace and will be in isolation at the residential area.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tests positive for Covid-19 ANI | Updated: Jan 12, 2021 05:24 IST
Madrid [Spain], January 12 (ANI/Sputnik): Portuguese PresidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa has tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), although he has no symptoms.
The test taken yesterday was negative, today s antibody test was also negative, but the results of another PCR test were positive, according to the president s website.
All events scheduled for the coming days with the president s participation have been canceled.
Presidential elections are to take place in Portugal on January 24, in which Sousa, who recently turned 72, intends to run again. (ANI/Sputnik)
TODAY
January 12, 2021
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has tested positive for the coronavirus just two weeks before the election of a new head of state.
The 72-year-old politician from the Conservative Social Democratic Party (PSD) is running for re-election.
He is not suffering from any symptoms, but the infection is disrupting the election campaign, the Lusa news agency reported on Tuesday.
The re-election of the president in the vote on January 24, is considered likely.
Of the total of seven candidates vying for the highest state office, three have interrupted their election campaign for safety reasons, the agency reported.
Whether and how a planned debate between the candidates can take place, is currently open.