Friday. 29.03.2024

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and several key cabinet members were to self-isolate and take a coronavirus test, her office said on Wednesday, following confirmation that the justice minister has the virus.

Justice Minister Nick Haekkerup said overnight that he had tested positive for the virus and was self-isolating at home. Haekkerup had a cough and a temperature, he wrote in a post on Facebook.

Last week, he met Frederiksen and several other cabinet members and lawmakers.

Frederiksen was to self-isolate pending the result.

According to the prime minister's office, social-distancing rules had been heeded when she met Haekkerup.

In all 13 cabinet members were currently self-isolating.

Opposition party leader

Ministers who were self-isolating and due to take a test following meetings with Haekkerup include the finance minister, foreign minister, defence minister and health minister.

Five other cabinet members, including the minister for environment, said on Tuesday they have gone into self-isolation after meetings with a lawmaker who had tested positive.

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Soren Pape Poulsen, has also said he had the virus.

The defence affairs spokesman for the opposition Liberals, Lars Christian Lilleholt, said he was admitted to hospital on Monday.

Danish prime minister to self-isolate, take virus test