COVID-19: Portugal's president self-isolates amid infection fear

Portugal's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. /CARLOS COSTA / AFP

Portugal's president has self-isolated after meeting a group of students from a school that has since been closed after a pupil tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The office of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 71, said on Sunday that, although he showed no symptoms, he has canceled all public activities and will stay at home amid the outbreak.

His office said he decided to self-isolate "to provide an example of taking preventative measures while continuing to work at home."

Portugal has 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths. Meanwhile, its European neighbor Italy, has had 6,387 cases and 366 deaths – making it the country worst-hit by the coronavirus after China.

The outbreak has also affected the country's political elites. Leader of the Italian Democratic Party, Nicola Zingaretti, confirmed on Saturday that he was infected with COVID-19 and has self-isolated.

In Iran, which has 3,500 cases and 107 confirmed deaths, eight percent of the country's parliament is reportedly infected. Subsequently, Tehran has barred government officials from traveling and parliament has been indefinitely suspended.

In an attempt to mitigate against the outbreak, financial bodies the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have announced they will conduct their upcoming meetings in a "virtual format."

Source(s): AP