PARIS (AP) – As French President Emmanuel Macron battles the coronavirus in a presidential retreat in Versailles, critics on Friday called for mistakes in his virus prevention behavior, from a close handshake to repeated meals with large groups during the previous week.
A fellow European leader who spent time with Macron at an EU summit last week, Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic, tested positive for the virus on Friday. Some of the other leaders who attended the summit reported testing negative, while some were not tested and others have not yet announced results of their tests.
In France, Macron has been criticized for actions seen as a bad example, as the country sees a fresh resurgence in confirmed cases and doctors are warning families to take precautions this holiday season – especially at the dinner table.
Although Macron usually wears a mask and adheres to social distance rules, and has insisted his virus strategy be science-driven, the 42-year-old president has been caught on camera in recent days, violating French guidelines.
He shook hands and hugged the head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Angel Gurria, at a meeting on Monday. Both were masked, but Macron’s office acknowledged Friday that the move was a “mistake.”
Last week, Macron spent two days in intense negotiations at an EU summit in Brussels with the leaders of the other 26 EU countries. Video clips released by the EU showed the leaders scattered in a circle in a huge conference room – Macron and most of the other leaders were not masked.
Macron also hosted or participated in multiple large group meals in the days before Positive Thursday was tested, including with members of his centrist party and rival politicians, while the French are currently advised to avoid gatherings larger than six people. His office has contacted those in attendance for meals, but told some people far from the president that they are not considered risky.
Macron is suffering from a fever, cough and fatigue, presidency officials said Friday. They would not give details of his treatment. He stays in the presidential residence of La Lanterne in the former royal city of Versailles, tucked away in a forest tightly guarded by the police.
Macron’s positive test comes as French health authorities see another surge in infections and warn of more as French families prepare to get together for Christmas and New Year celebrations. France reported a further 18,254 new infections on Thursday and the death toll is just under 60,000.
The French Pasteur Institute published a study on Friday that suggests meals at home and in public are a major source of contamination. Pasteur epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet said on France-Inter radio Friday that “we can see each other during the holidays, just not too many, and at critical times during meals, not too many people at the same table.”
Macron ran a test Thursday morning “as soon as symptoms first appeared” and will isolate himself for seven days, in line with recommendations from national health authorities, the presidency said. Macron plans to continue working and went ahead with a scheduled video conference speech 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 was criticized for not having enough masks or tests and locking up the population quickly enough. A strict lockdown of two months reduced infections and France sent children back to school and their parents back to work.
But infections picked up again this fall, so he declared a new, softer lockdown in October to ease pressure on hospitals. Measures have been relaxed somewhat this week, although restaurants, tourist sites, gyms and some other facilities remain closed.
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Karel Janicek in Prague, Catherine Gaschka in Paris and Raf Casert in Brussels contributed.