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23rd Sep 2020

Leo Varadkar confirms he is restricting his movements as close contact of confirmed Covid-19 case

Conor Heneghan

Leo Varadkar

The Tanáiste himself has returned a negative test for Covid-19.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed that he is restricting his movements in line with public health advice after being informed he is a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Tánaiste also confirmed that he had a Covid-19 test on Tuesday and that it has come back negative.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Varadkar said: “Yesterday I was informed that I was a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19. I was swabbed yesterday and the test has come back negative.

“In line with public health advice, I will be restricting my movements to home and outdoor exercise. There are no implications for anyone who has been in close contact with me. I am perfectly well and will be working from home.”

Separately to the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is also restricting his movements after travelling to Brussels for meetings on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Coveney was tested for Covid-19 before leaving Ireland and again on his return.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue is also restricting his movements after it emerged that the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, tested positive for Covid-19 having attended a meeting in Berlin last Friday, in which finance ministers from all 27 states, including Donohoe, were also present.

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