French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19, will self-isolate for a week

© Chesnot/Getty Images PARIS, FRANCE – DECEMBER 16: French President Emmanuel Macron wearing a protective face mask listens to Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa during a joint statement prior to their meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace on December 16, 2020 in Paris, France. In January 2021, Portugal will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Portugal will assume the six-month rotating EU Council presidency on 1 January 2021, being the fourth time that Lisbon held the role since joining the then European Economic Community in 1986. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms and will self-isolate for a week, his office said Thursday,

The Elysee Palace said in a statement that Macron, 42, was diagnosed after he was tested “at the onset of the first symptoms.”

“In accordance with current health regulations applicable to all, the President of the Republic will isolate himself for 7 days. He continues to work and carry out his activities remotely.”

The French President had meetings with a number of other top European leaders in recent days, several of whom announced they would quarantine in the wake of Macron’s diagnosis.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council President Charles Michel said they would go into quarantine as a precautionary measure.

Macron’s planned trip to Lebanon next week has been canceled, and French Prime Minister Jean Castex has gone into quarantine.

Here’s what we know about Macron’s movements in recent days:

Spain’s foreign ministry said Sanchez would immediately take a test and quarantine for a week. A European Commission spokesman said Michel would go into quarantine “as a precaution,” but noted that Michel had tested negative as recently as Tuesday.

Macron is the latest major world leader to test positive for the coronavirus. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, key French allies, were both hospitalized after contracting the virus earlier in the pandemic.

“Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery,” Johnson tweeted Thursday.

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen wished Macron “a quick recovery.”

France on Wednesday reported 17,615 new coronavirus cases, its highest figure since November 21, bringing the country to more than 2.4 million infections since the start of the pandemic.

The country also reported 289 deaths Wednesday, taking it to a total of 59,361 Covid-19 fatalities.

Castex announced last week that the easing of restrictions would be delayed in light of rising infection rates. New cases remain well above the target of 5,000 new cases per day that Macron had set as a precondition to lifting the lockdown.

French television showed footage of artists and cultural workers protesting throughout the country on Tuesday as theaters, museums, and cinemas did not reopen as planned. They will instead remain closed for three additional weeks, Castex said.

The curfew hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. were also extended on Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, French citizens will no longer need certificates to leave their homes, Castex said. They will also be allowed to travel to other regions. Restaurants and cafés are still scheduled to reopen on January 20, 2021.