Ursula von der Leyen – EU Covid disaster: High officers should self-isolate after VDL assembly with Portugal minister
And the information is for certain to focus consideration on Mrs von der Leyen’s controversial choice to journey to the nation for talks which might have taken place by video convention. Mr Leao has examined constructive for the coronavirus, his workplace mentioned on Saturday, a day after he took half in an in-person assembly within the nation’s capital with high EU officers together with the European Fee President herself.
The 46-year-old minister has to this point proven no signs and can proceed to earn a living from home throughout a interval of self-isolation, an announcement from his ministry mentioned.
Self-isolation might final something from 10 to 14 days.
Mr Leao’s constructive take a look at end result was introduced greater than 24 hours after he attended the assembly on the Belem Cultural Centre on Friday to debate Portugal’s high priorities throughout its six-month EU presidency, which started this month.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa was additionally on the assembly, as had been a number of different ministers and secretaries of state.
Mr Costa just lately needed to self-isolate for 14 days after a lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, who subsequently examined constructive for the virus.
A number of EU officers travelled to Lisbon for the assembly, together with von der Leyen, the Fee’s government vp Frans Timmermans and competitors chief Margrethe Vestager – all of whom had been current on the assembly.
Based mostly on the data acquired, European Vice President Margarethe Vestager, the EU’s commerce chief, Valdis Dombrovskis, who’s the commerce supremo, and Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms are thought of contact individuals.
The spokeswoman mentioned: “They have been informed and will respect the Belgian rules for quarantine as of today.”
As such, they are going to be examined on day seven, and quarantined till the results of take a look at a minimum of – though they are going to obtain an “exemption to exercise essential functions”, the spokesman mentioned.
Neither the President nor the opposite members of the Faculty delegation fulfil the standards to be thought of contact individuals, she pressured – with out specifying why.
Prior of her journey, Mrs von der Leyen advised Europeans to be “very disciplined” and to obey all restrictions aimed toward slowing the unfold of the pandemic.
She mentioned: “This is serious, we must remain vigilant, we must monitor and we must be very disciplined.”
On Friday, Romanian MEP Cristian Terhes instructed she had not wanted to journey to Portugal for the conferences, however might as a substitute have talked by video hyperlink.
He mentioned: He mentioned: “It’s an act of outrageous hypocrisy for the Faculty of Commissioners to go to Lisbon for a ceremony and conferences a day after the Portuguese authorities concern a strict keep at residence order for the tax-paying residents.
“Absolutely the commissioners can Zoom like all people else?
“A basic instance of do as I say, not as I do.”
