Thursday, March 12, 2020

UNLIKE TRUMP
Canada’s Justin Trudeau is self-isolating while his wife waits on coronavirus test results

PUBLISHED THU, MAR 12 2020 

KEY POINTS

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-isolating at home while his wife, Sophie Gregoire, awaits the results of a test for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, a spokesperson said Thursday. 

“The doctor’s advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself,” Cameron Ahmad, Trudeau’s communications director, wrote in a statement.

The rapidly evolving pandemic has threatened to bring global economic activity to a virtual stand-still. It has also sparked fears in the U.S. and elsewhere that major decision-makers could be infected.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregorie Trudeau arrive for The Throne Speech at the Senate of Canada on December 5, 2019 in Ottawa.
Dave Chan | AFP | Getty Images

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-isolating at home while his wife, Sophie Gregoire, awaits the results of a test for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, a spokesperson said Thursday.

“The doctor’s advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself,” Cameron Ahmad, Trudeau’s communications director, wrote in a statement. “However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie’s results.”
Gregoire recently returned from a speaking engagement in London and began exhibiting “mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever” late on Wednesday, according to the statement. Gregoire is also self-isolating at home and her symptoms have subsided.

There have been 117 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Canada, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Trudeau will spend Thursday in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home, Ahmad said, including a discussion with a federal committee Trudeau announced earlier in March to coordinate the government’s response to the public health crisis.

The rapidly evolving pandemic has threatened to bring global economic activity to a virtual stand-still. It has also sparked fears in the U.S. and elsewhere that major decision-makers could be infected.

Earlier on Thursday, media reports said that a Brazilian official who dined with President Donald Trump at his Florida golf resort over the weekend has tested positive for coronavirus. Trump said he’s not concerned.

Those reports came after Trump had contact with two U.S. congressmen before they self-quarantined over coronavirus fears. At least one of those lawmakers has since tested negative.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the leading contender for the Democratic nomination, formed a coronavirus committee on Wednesday to advise his campaign on minimizing risk from the pandemic.Both Biden and his rival Sen. Bernie Sanders canceled rallies this week in Ohio because of coronavirus. Health officials have warned against holding large public gatherings, where the virus can spread to many people rapidly.

Health officials say older individuals and those with chronic health problems are more vulnerable to coronavirus. While Trump, Biden and Sanders are all in their 70s, Trudeau is 48.

Coronavirus has infected more than 127,749 people around the world and killed at least 4,717.



Canada PM working from home as wife tested for COVID-19
Issued on: 12/03/2020 


Ottawa (Canada) (AFP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife announced they were self-isolating Thursday as she undergoes tests for the new coronavirus after returning from a speaking engagement with "mild flu-like symptoms."

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau's symptoms have subsided since she recently got back from Britain, but as a precaution the prime minister "will spend the day in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home," according to a statement.

Trudeau also cancelled a meeting Thursday and Friday with Canada's provincial and territorial leaders in Ottawa, but still planned to speak with them and world leaders by phone about measures being taken to curb the spread of the virus in Canada.

Gregoire-Trudeau's symptoms had included "a low fever late last night." She immediately sought medical advice and testing.

Trudeau has exhibited no symptoms, and was advised by doctors "to continue daily activities while self-monitoring."

"However, out of an abundance of caution, the prime minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results," said his office.

Since the novel coronavirus first emerged in late December 2019, 127,070 cases have been recorded in 115 countries and territories, killing 4,687 people, according to an AFP tally compiled at 1200 GMT on Thursday based on official sources.

Canada has so far reported more than 100 cases in six provinces, and one death.

© 2020 AFP

No comments:

Post a Comment