The wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has tested positive for Covid-19 following a trip to the United Kingdom.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announced pm Thursday evening that she had tested positive for the coronavirus and plans to remain in isolation for the next two weeks. Her symptoms have been described as mild.
“Although I’m experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of the virus, I will be back on my feet soon,” she said in a statement. “Being in quarantine at home is nothing compared to other Canadian families who might be going through this and for those facing more serious health concerns.”
The prime minister remains “in good health with no symptoms” according to his office, but will work in remotely for the next two weeks. He plans to address Canadians on Friday.
Fears earlier today that Grégoire Trudeau might have contracted the virus while in London prompted the prime minister to work from home, derailing a planned meeting with premiers to discuss the economic fallout from the coronavirus and the recent plunge in oil prices.
As a country that relies heavily on the export of fossil fuels, concerns are mounting that Canada is precariously close to a recession. On Wednesday, his government announced a $1bn dollar plan to address mounting concerns over the virus, including additional funding for medical research. He and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland plan to speak with provincial leaders by phone tomorrow.
Trudeau’s decision to self-isolate follows two members of his cabinet – trade minister Mary Ng and natural resources minister Seamus O’Regan – also choosing to self isolate in recent days. Both O’Regan and Trudeau recently attended a large mining conference in Toronto where one person was subsequently diagnosed with Covid-19. Health officials have asked all 25,000 people who attended to monitor for any symptoms of the coronavirus.
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh has also chosen to self-isolate after becoming ill.
“I have been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe I have symptoms consistent with Covid-19. But their advice is for me to limit contact with the public until I am feeling better,” he tweeted.
To date, Canada has 140 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and one death. Seventeen new cases were announced in Ontario, the most populous province, on Thursday. None of the new cases appear to have been spread through the community, said officials, and instead were found in people who recently traveled.
