PANDEMIC

Erdogan says he and wife contracted 'mild' cases of Omicron

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and his wife Emine Erdogan, arrive in Buenos Aires for the 2018 G20 summit. Photo: Hernan Nersesian/G20/dpa.

The president will rest at his apartment in Istanbul for a week before he is administered a second test

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he and his wife Emine have tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, but they are doing well at home.

"Today, the result of our Covid-19 test, which we had with my wife following mild symptoms, turned out to be positive," Erdogan tweeted.

"Thank God, we are pulling through the sickness, which we learned is an Omicron variant," he wrote. "We are in charge of our duties. We will continue our work from home. We ask for your prayers," he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Erdogan joined a live videoconference to mark the opening of a road project in the Black Sea town of Zonguldak.

"We could not come to Zonguldak due to cold and hoarseness," Erdogan told a crowd in the city via teleconference.

Erdogan will turn 68 later in February and has been vaccinated.

Rest for a week

The president will rest at his apartment in Istanbul for a week before he is administered a second test, an advisor said by phone.

In the meantime, he will join events via videoconference if he has to, the advisor added.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and other politicians wished Erdogan and his wife well on Twitter.