- Ottawa, Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Prime Minister's Office said late Thursday, saying she will remain in isolation.
"She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild," the PMO said, adding that the prime minister "is in good health with no symptoms."
Trudeau will also stay in isolation for 14 days, but on the advice of his doctors, will not be tested because he has no symptoms. He plans to address Canadians on Friday.
Grégoire Trudeau began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late Wednesday, shortly after returning from the U.K.
Meanwhile, a meeting between Trudeau, the premiers and Indigenous leaders that was scheduled to begin in Ottawa today has been postponed indefinitely in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Trudeau, absent from the House of Commons due to self-isolation, was offered best wishes today from Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer at the opening of the daily question period.
"I'm sure I speak for all members when I convey our best wishes to the prime minister and his wife and any other parliamentarians who may be affected by symptoms. We wish them and her a speedy recovery," he said.
The statement from the PMO says Trudeau would speak to the provincial and territorial leaders by phone to discuss "collective action" to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The agenda of the now-cancelled First Ministers Meeting was to focus on economic issues, including the impact of tumbling oil prices on the national economy, the pressing need for critical infrastructure and the impact of COVID-19.
The PM spent 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, an earlier PMO statement said.
One of those calls was with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. According to a readout from the PMO, Trudeau expressed solidarity with Conte and all Italians as they take
"extraordinary measures" to contain and respond to COVID-19.
"The prime ministers discussed steps they are taking to protect health and safety, and to promote economic resilience. They agreed on the importance of international coordination in response to the virus," the call summary reads.
Trudeau also spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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