PARIS (AP) – As French President Emmanuel Macron rides a coronovirus in a presidential retreat in Versailles, critics on Friday called a slip-up in his virus-preventing behavior, repeated large groups from a close quarters Joined hands for a meal last week.
A European leader, who spent time at the EU summit with Macron last week, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Igor Matovich tested positive for the virus on Friday. Some other leaders present at the summit described the test as negative, while some were not being tested and others have not yet announced the results from their tests.
In France, Macron faced criticism for actions that were seen as setting a bad example as the country sees a new change in athletic affairs and the doctor is looking forward to dinner, especially this holiday season. At the table, caution the families to take precautions.
While Macron usually wears a mask and follows the rules of social perversion, and has insisted that his virus strategy is driven by science, the 42-year-old president has been caught in recent days in violation of France’s own guidelines by cameras Is imprisoned in
He greeted the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Angel Guria, in a meeting on Monday. Both were masked, but Macron’s office admitted on Friday that the move was a “mistake”.
Last week, Macron spent two days in intensive talks at the EU summit in Brussels with leaders of the other 26 EU countries. Video excerpts released by the European Union showed that leaders were dispersed in a circle in a huge meeting room – Macron, and most other leaders were not masked.
Macron has also hosted or participated in several large-group meals before testing positive Thursday, including members of his centrist and rival politicians, while advising Frenchmen to avoid celebrations larger than six at present. Is given. His office is contacting attendees for food, but told some people sitting away from the president that they are not considered a risk.
Macron suffers from fever, cough and fatigue, officials with the president said on Friday. They will not give details of his treatment. He is staying at the presidential residence of La Latane in the former red city of Versailles, which has been kept tightly guarded by police.
French health officials are seeing an increase in infections again as Macron tests positive and are giving more and more warnings as French families prepare to come together for Christmas and New Year celebrations. France reported another 18,254 new infections on Thursday and its death toll is just under 60,000.
France’s Pasteur Institute released a study on Friday stating that meal time at home and in public is a major source of contamination. Pasteur epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet said on France-Inter radio on Friday that during the holidays, “We can see each other, there are just not many, and at the critical moments of the meal, there are not many people at the same table.” . “
The Presidency said Macron took a test on Thursday morning “as soon as the first symptoms appeared” and would self-isolate for seven days, the president said. Macron planned to continue working, and went ahead with a planned speech by Videoconference on Thursday.
The French health minister suggested that Macron may have been infected at the EU summit in Brussels last week, but Macron also had several meetings in Paris.
France had Europe’s first virus case in January, but Macron’s government faced criticism for not doing enough masks or tests and limiting the population quickly enough. A strict two-month lockdown reduced infection, and France sent the children back to school and their parents back to work.
But as the infection receded, he announced a new, softer lockout aimed at easing the pressure on hospitals in October. The measures were relaxed a little this week, although restaurants, tourist spots, gyms and some other facilities are closed.
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Karel Janicek in Prague, Catherine Gaschka in Paris and Rough Kassert in Brussels contributed.
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