European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says she has placed herself in isolation after being in contact with a person infected with coronavirus.
The head of the EU’s executive arm took part in a meeting in Portugal last Tuesday that was attended by Portuguese state councillor Antonio Lobo Xavier ‘who yesterday tested positive’.
She said she tested negative for the virus on Thursday and that she will undergo another test later today.
Ms Von der Leyen, who attended a two-day summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday last week, said she will be in quarantine until Tuesday morning.
Her isolation will keep her close to work, however. She has a small living quarters next to her office in the EU headquarters in Brussels.
Ms Von der Leyen said: ‘I’ve been informed that I participated in a meeting last Tuesday attended by a person who yesterday tested positive for COVID-19.
‘In accordance with regulations in force, I’m therefore self-isolating until tomorrow morning. I’ve tested negative on Thursday and am tested again today.’
Two weeks ago, EU Council president Charles Michel was forced to postpone a summit of EU leaders because he was quarantining.
The summit went ahead on Thursday and Friday last week and was attended by Ms Von der Leyen.
Ms Von der Leyen took part last Tuesday in a special meeting of Portugal’s state council in the coastal town of Cascais, on the outskirts of Lisbon.
State councillor Antonio Lobo Xavier tested positive for the virus on Sunday.
The meeting was attended physically by 15 of the 19 members of the president’s advisory body.
Source : Agencies
