Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-isolating after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, began exhibiting flu-like symptoms. She has returned from a speaking engagement in the U.K.
Sophie immediately sought medical advice after developing the symptoms, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
She is being tested for the COVID-19 virus and both she and the PM have decided to self-isolate at home while awaiting the results.
“The doctor’s advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie’s results,” read the statement.
“The Prime Minister will spend the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining the special COVID-19 cabinet committee discussion.”
Justin Trudeau posted on social media about the same. He wrote,” I have some personal news to share today. Sophie recently returned from a speaking event in the UK, and last night she was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. She‘s feeling better, but following the advice of our doctor, she is self-isolating as we wait on COVID-19 test results.
Out of an abundance of caution, I too will be self-isolating & self-monitoring until we get Sophie‘s results back. But I‘ll be busy working from home. Today, I‘ll be speaking with some world leaders and joining ministers for a Cabinet committee discussion on COVID-19.
I was looking forward to sitting down with premiers and Indigenous leaders later today, but given the circumstances, we‘ll be postponing our meeting. In the meantime, we‘ll speak on the phone about how we can mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19 and keep Canadians safe.”
The incident has forced the cancellation of an in-person meeting of Canada’s first ministers.
The PMO says Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will speak with the first ministers over the phone to discuss Canada’s COVID-19 prevention.
