BRUSSELS, January 7 (Xinhua) – Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden have joined the growing list of dignitaries in Europe infected with covid-19 since the New Year.
DIGNITARES INFECTED
Nehammer tested positive for covid-19 on Friday, the Austrian Chancellor said, adding that he was infected by a member of his security team.
However, the Chancellor showed no symptoms and would continue to perform his official duties from home via video and telephone meetings. Nehammer had received three covid-19 vaccine doses.
Two days ago, Polish President Duda also tested positive and was self-isolating. “The president is well, has no serious symptoms and is under constant medical care,” Duda’s chief of staff Pawel Szrot said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Royal Court announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia had tested positive for covid-19. They had both received three vaccine doses and had only mild symptoms.
Also on Tuesday, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg tested positive for the virus and has been isolated ever since.
In Greece, the country’s former prime minister Antonis Samaras said on Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus, with mild symptoms. On Tuesday, Justice Minister Kostas Tsiaras and Akis Skertsos, the prime minister responsible for coordinating government work, tested both positive.
In neighboring Bulgaria, the country’s Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska tested positive for covid-19 on Wednesday. Her department said Genchovska had received two doses of the vaccine.
STRICTER MEASURES
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and 16 state leaders agreed on Friday on a new set of rules and restrictions to slow the spread of covid-19. To enter restaurants and bars, customers must now provide a negative covid-19 test or evidence of a booster shot.
The German government plans to intensify vaccination and booster campaigns, amid an increase in cases run by the Omicron variant. “The Omicron variant will cause infections to increase, and we will see greater numbers in the coming days and weeks,” Scholz warned.
In the neighboring country of the Netherlands, the number of daily infections has increased this week due to the Omicron variant. The country reported a new daily record of 34,954 cases on Friday.
The Netherlands has been locked since December 19, with the closure of all but important shops, as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places until at least January 14. Public gatherings with more than two people are prohibited.
Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, Greece has registered increasing infections in recent days, and the government has intensified its protection measures.
The government has said that when schools reopen on January 10, all students and teachers will need to be tested 2-3 times a week in January, regardless of their vaccination status.
Source: sn.dk