PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for the coronavirus and will self-isolate for seven days, the Elysée Palace has announced.

The diagnosis was established following an RT-PCR test carried out as soon as the first symptoms appeared," the president's office said in a statement.

"In accordance with the health advice applicable to everyone, the President of the Republic will self-isolate for seven days. He will continue to work and to carry out his activities remotely."

French Prime Minister Jean Castex is also self-isolating and will not go to the Senate as planned, his Matignon office announced. Health Minister Olivier Véran is reportedly standing in for Castex in parliament.

According to French news channel BFMTV, the president has so far not developed a serious form of the illness.

Le Figaro reports that it was told by Macron's entourage earlier this week that the president had been tested several times since the start of the pandemic.

His recent meetings include a visit by the Portuguese prime minister to Paris on Wednesday, while a week ago Macron was in Brussels for a European Council summit of EU leaders.

This week France exited a month-and-a-half long lockdown but now has an overnight curfew from 20.00 to 06.00 to curb the spread of COVID-19. — Euronews