Angela Merkel in quarantine after her doctor tests positive for coronavirus
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone into quarantine after a doctor who administered a vaccine to her tested positive for Covid-19.
Merkel’s spokesman said she was informed about the doctor’s test shortly after holding a news conference on Sunday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, added Merkel had received a precautionary vaccine on Friday against pneumococcal infection.
Seibert said in a statement that Merkel, 65, would undergo ‘regular tests’ in the coming days and continue with her work from home for the time being.
Merkel announced earlier today gatherings of more than two people would be banned in Germany to control the spread of coronavirus.
Armin Laschet, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia state, added the only exception would be if people were working on slowing the spread of the disease.
He said: ‘The danger lies in the direct social interaction.’
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Laschet confirmed the federal government and regional states had agreed on the stricter rules.
On Saturday the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany had risen by 2,705 within a day to reach 16,662, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said.
It added a total of 47 people had died after testing positive, an increase of 16 from a tally of 31 published on Friday.
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