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Portugal’s president tests negative after ‘low risk’ COVID-19 exposure – Metro US

Portugal’s president tests negative after ‘low risk’ COVID-19 exposure

FILE PHOTO: Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addresses the
FILE PHOTO: Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg

LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has tested negative for COVID-19 after being in contact with someone who is infected and will not stay in self-isolation as the exposure was considered low risk, his office said on Wednesday.

The 72-year-old is campaigning to win a second term as the country’s president in an election on Jan. 24. He has several presidential debates scheduled before then, including one this evening which will go ahead as planned.

“Following the decision by the health authority, the president, who has already tested negative today, will resume his work schedule,” his office said in a statement shared on his official website.

Rebelo de Sousa’s office said the contact happened on Monday with a member of Casa Civil, a body of specialists who provide consultation services to the president.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Philippa Fletcher)