42-year-old French president Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release published on the Élysée Palace's website. The press release says: 'this diagnosis has been established following a RT-PCR test taken after the first symptoms appeared.'
Discover our latest podcast
Senator André Gattolin, a close friend of the French president, has given some details about the president's health:
He was feeling a little bit tired last night. I thought he was looking particularly tired the last 4 or 5 days.
He went on to say that Macron 'is feeling a bit feverish and stiff.' He has not developed a severe form of the disease.
The press release also states that Macron will beself-isolating for at least 7 days. He will continue to work as much as his health will allow him to, remotely. His political agenda will have to be revised, nevertheless—the French president had plans to visit Lebanon on 22 and 23 December, but his visit will have to be postponed.
In the last few days, Macron had met with Antonio Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, among others. They will however not all be self-isolating since physical distancing had been respected.
However, French Prime Minister Jean Castex and the President's wife Brigitte Macron have both started to self-isolate. They have not developed any symptoms.
