Coronavirus France: Brigitte Macron, 67, self-isolates after contact

Brigitte Macron, 67, will self-isolate after the French First Lady came into contact with a person who has Covid-19

  • Brigitte Macron, 67, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, 42,  is isolating
  • Statement said she had contact with a person who had tested covid-19 positive 
  • Mrs Macron currently has no symptoms of covid and is isolating as a precaution

French First Lady Brigitte Macron will self-isolate for seven days after coming into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Macron’s office said on Monday.

Mrs Macron made contact with someone who later tested positive for covid-19 on Thursday, October 15th – an evening that saw millions head out to spend time with friends ahead of the 9pm curfews that came into place in France’s largest cities the following day.

A spokesman for President Macron’s office said: ‘Brigitte Macron was in contact on Thursday Oct. 15 with a person who has been tested positive for COVID-19 this Monday, Oct. 19, and showing symptoms of the disease.

French President Emmanuel Macron wearing a face mask speaks with his wife Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Macron (left) greets school children at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

Brigitte Macron (left) greets school children at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

‘In accordance with health authorities’ recommendations, she will self-isolate for seven days. Brigitte Macron has no symptoms of the disease at this stage.’  

On Friday night, at 9pm, a  strict 9pm curfew came into force across France’s largest cities with millions of people heading out to enjoy their last night of freedom.

The State of Emergency measure was applied to Paris, Lille, Rouen, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse, Lyon, Grenoble, Aix-en-Provence and Montpellier. 

France is fighting against a resurgent epidemic that has now filled a third of the country’s intensive care units with COVID-19 patients and is again putting Europe to the test.

French president's wife Brigitte Macron gives a dictation to school children in support for the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA), at a school Le Chesnay, near Versailles

French president’s wife Brigitte Macron gives a dictation to school children in support for the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA), at a school Le Chesnay, near Versailles

Brigitte Macron greets school children at a school in Paris, France October 12, 2020

Brigitte Macron greets school children at a school in Paris, France October 12, 2020

Mrs Macron (centre right) and French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer (centre) pose for a photo at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

Mrs Macron (centre right) and French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer (centre) pose for a photo at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

The First Lady gives a dictation to school children in support for the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA), at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

The First Lady gives a dictation to school children in support for the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA), at a school in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, on October 12, 2020

President Emmanuel Macron announced curfews on around 20 million people in the Paris region and eight other French metropolitan areas that begun Friday, to try to slow the tide.

France has seen its case totals soar during the coronavirus second wave, reporting 25,000 cases on Friday along with 178 deaths. The cases figures is a rise of 5,000 on the same time last week.

The country is registering nearly 180 virus cases per 100,000 people every week, with 22,591 total new cases Wednesday. It has reported one of the world’s highest virus-related death tolls, at more than 33,000 lives lost.