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French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 Thursday after a week of meeting numerous European leaders.<\/p>\nFrench President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 Thursday after a week of meeting numerous European leaders.<\/p>\n
The French and Spanish prime ministers are among those self-isolating because they had recent contact with him.<\/p>\n
Mr Macron took a test \u201cas soon as the first symptoms appeared\u201d and will self-isolate for seven days, the presidency said in a brief statement.<\/p>\n
It did not detail what symptoms Mr Macron experienced or any treatment he might be receiving.<\/p>\n
The 42-year-old president \u201cwill continue to work and take care of his activities at a distance\u201d, the statement added.<\/p>\n
His wife, Brigitte, 67, will also self-isolate but has no symptoms and tested negative on Tuesday ahead of a visit to a Paris hospital, her office said.<\/p>\n
Mr Macron attended a European Union summit at the end of last week when he had a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.<\/p>\n
It is not immediately clear what contact tracing efforts were in progress.<\/p>\n
EU leaders met in person on December 10-11, for the first time since October.<\/p>\n
The media was generally kept away from the summit venue in Brussels but TV images showed the leaders wearing masks, generally keeping good distancing \u2013 preferring elbow bumps to the usual handshakes, kisses and hugs \u2013 and occasionally using handgel dispensers in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the European Council of Thursday 10 and Friday December 11, all sanitary measures were observed and we have not been informed of any other participant or staff present during the summit who tested positive,\u201d an EU official said.<\/p>\n
Mr Macron had lunch on Wednesday with Portugal\u2019s Prime Minister Antonio Costa.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate comment from Portuguese officials.<\/p>\n
The Spanish government has announced Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who met Mr Macron in Paris on Monday, will place himself in quarantine until December 24.<\/p>\n
Mr Sanchez informed Spain\u00b4s King Felipe VI of the decision and cancelled an appearance at Spain\u2019s National Library on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Mr Macron also held the government\u2019s weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
French Prime Minister Jean Castex\u2019s office said he will also self-isolate for seven days.<\/p>\n
A day earlier, Mr Macron had lunch with the heads of political groups at the National Assembly, France\u2019s lower house of parliament.<\/p>\n
The French presidency confirmed Mr Macron\u2019s trip to Lebanon scheduled for next week is being cancelled.<\/p>\n
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who attended last week\u2019s EU summit, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson both wished Macron a speedy recovery on Twitter.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson said: \u201cSorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then repeated the message in French.<\/p>\n