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HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY-MARKEL
Merkel in quarantine after meeting virus-infected doctor
BERLIN, March 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel will
quarantine herself at home after being treated by a doctor who has since
tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman said
Sunday.
“The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself immediately at home. She
will be tested regularly in the coming days… (and) fulfil her official
business from home,” Steffen Seibert said in a statement.
The doctor had visited Merkel Friday to vaccinate her against the
pneumococcus bacteria.
It could take some time to determine whether the chancellor is herself
infected as “a test would not yet be fully conclusive,” Seibert said.
During her 15-year term in office Merkel has largely enjoyed robust
health, although she suffered repeated shaking spells in public appearances
during a summer 2019 heatwave that were never fully explained.
In response to the tremors, she chose to sit on a chair when receiving
guests with military honours outside the chancellor’s office in Berlin.
Previously the veteran leader broke her pelvis in a cross-country skiing
accident in 2014.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 2426 hrs