EU president leaves summit after just 30 minutes as team member tests positive for Covid

The president of the European Commission has had to leave a major EU summit after just 30 minutes, in order to self-isolate.

Ursula von der Leyen said a member of her team had tested positive for coronavirus and that she was leaving “as a precaution”.

The top EU official had spent the morning in bilateral meetings with the Portuguese and Czech prime ministers, and spent time greeting all 27 EU leaders at the Brussels meeting shortly before leaving.

“I have just been informed that a member of my front office has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning. I myself have tested negative,” Ms Von der Leyen said.

“However as a precaution I am immediately leaving the European Council to go into self-isolation.”

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