France’s Culture Minister Has Entered Quarantine After Testing Positive for Coronavirus

French Culture Minister
Franck Riester has self-quarantined after testing positive for
Covid-19, or coronavirus. The politician began displaying
symptoms yesterday, the ministry confirmed, ahead of scheduled
meetings to review measures put in place to limit the spread of the
infection.

Riester is in quarantine at home but is
reportedly “feeling fine,” according to his post on Facebook today.
“I am suffering from the classic flu symptoms today,” he wrote,
adding that he is working remotely. The 46-year-old politician had
spent several work days last week sitting in the National Assembly,
where five cases of the virus have been confirmed. French
president Emmanuel Macron had not met with his culture minister in
several days, although he was in attendance at the assembly.

The news brings into the focus the fact
that politicians, who by the nature of their work need to
frequently meet in large meetings and make public appearances, are
on the frontlines of the disease. France’s head of state
encouraged his cabinet to take the same precautions as all French
people to minimize the spread of infection.

Riester clarified that the did not attend meetings once it
became clear that there had been an outbreak on the National
Assembly.

France is one of Europe’s most affected countries after Italy,
which has now extended travel restrictions across the whole country
in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

As of writing, France has 1,412 confirmed cases and 30
deaths. The government has taken actions to attempt slowing
the rate of infection, including the banning of gatherings over
1,000 people. Festivals, concerts, and football games have been
canceled, postponed, or are being streamed online without attendant
audiences.

Riester had planned to meet with representatives from the cinema
and performing arts industries today, March 10, to assess the
efficacy of new safety measures being taken, The Art
Newspaper reports.

The Louvre reopened last
week with updated security measures after several days of
closure as the museum discussed how to protect its staff; it has
gone cash-free and guards are not handling tickets. The Musée
d’Orsay is regulating entrance numbers to comply with the new
rules. At the Louvre, only those with pre-purchased tickets online
or passes are being allowed into the museum.

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