French Prime Minister Castex tests positive for COVID-19

France's prime minister tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, hours after returning from a visit to neighboring Belgium and just as France is seeing a nationwide resurgence of infections, according to his office. French Prime Minister Jean Castex will adapt his schedule for the coming 10 days to continue his activities in isolation, his office said. One of Castex's daughters tested positive Monday after her father returned from a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo in Brussels, and Castex himself then took two tests that were both positive, his office said. De Croo will be tested on Wednesday and will stay in quarantine until then, as well as four other affected Belgian ministers, Belgian TV reported.

While 75% of France's population is vaccinated, the number of virus infections has risen quickly in recent weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths linked to the virus are also rising in France, though are so far well below the crisis levels of earlier surges. Last week, France’s health regulator recommended booster shots for over 40s. Currently it is available to over 65s.