Portuguese finance minister tests positive for coronavirus after meeting prime EU officers

LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s Finance Minister Joao Leao has examined good for the coronavirus, his business explained on Saturday, a working day right after he took element in an in-human being conference in Lisbon with major EU officials such as Fee main Ursula von der Leyen.

The 46-calendar year-outdated minister has so considerably proven no signs or symptoms and will continue to get the job done from residence for the duration of a interval of self-isolation, a assertion from his ministry reported. Self-isolation could final involving 10 to 14 days.

Leao’s constructive examination outcome was introduced much more than 24 hours after he attended the assembly at the Belem Cultural Centre on Friday to talk about Portugal’s major priorities in the course of its six-thirty day period EU presidency, which begun this thirty day period.

Key Minister Antonio Costa was also at the conference, as had been numerous other ministers and secretaries of point out. Costa not long ago had to self-isolate for 14 times soon after a lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, who then examined good for the virus.

A number of EU officers travelled to Lisbon for the assembly, together with von der Leyen, the Commission’s Govt Vice President Frans Timmermans and European Opposition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager — all of whom were present.

Official illustrations or photos of the conference shared on the government web page confirmed it took area in a significant home and all members wore experience masks.