Macron tests positive for COVID-19, European leaders rush for tests By Elizabeth Pineau and Michel Rose
FILE PHOTO: French President Macron welcomes Portugal s Prime Minister Costa in Paris
PARIS (Reuters) -President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, prompting a track-and-trace effort across Europe following numerous meetings between the French leader and EU heads of government in recent days.
Macron, who will turn 43 on Monday, is running France remotely and has gone into quarantine at the presidential retreat of La Lanterne close to the Palace of Versailles, the presidency said.
A presidential official described Macron as tired and having a cough. His wife Brigitte tested negative but was also self-isolating, staying at the Elysee palace in central Paris.
2020/12/17 19:18 French President Emmanuel Macron reacts as he meets Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Paris. French President Emman. French President Emmanuel Macron reacts as he meets Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, the presidential Elysee Palace announced on Thursday. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) FILE - In this April 12, 2020, file photo issued by 10 Downing Street, Britain s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks from 10 Downing Street praising N. FILE - In this April 12, 2020, file photo issued by 10 Downing Street, Britain s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks from 10 Downing Street praising NHS staff in a video message after he was discharged from hospital a week after being admitted with persistent coronavirus symptoms, in London. Johnson was the first major world leader confir
Macron, who turns 43 next week, will continue to work remotely, the statement added.
His 67-year-old wife, Brigitte, will also self-isolate but she has not reported any Covid symptoms, her office said.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex, 55, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, 48, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, 59, and European Council President Charles Michel, 44, said they will go into quarantine because they had been in contact with Macron in recent days.
Sanchez, who had lunch with Macron on Monday, said he would suspend all public activities through to Christmas Eve.
Macron has also met with the OECD s Angel Gurria this week. The French president hosted a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.