The head of the German Ministry of Health was diagnosed with coronavirus. In the morning he met with Merkel

German Health Minister Jens Spahn tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the agency said. In the morning, he met with all members of the Cabinet, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“Until now, he has only had symptoms of a cold. Everyone who came into contact with him has been notified,” quoted the ministry as saying. the Frankfurter Allgemeine

Spahn is the only senior official in Germany to have contracted COVID-19.

In the first half of the day on Wednesday, the head of the Ministry of Health took part in a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers in the building of the Office of the Federal Chancellor. The government said that the ministers and the chancellor would not go into quarantine, as Spahn came to the meeting wearing a mask. “In the building of the Office of the Federal Chancellor, and especially in the international conference hall, where the weekly meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers take place, all conditions are optimized for protection against infections,” the government press service added.

At the same time, the ministers sat at a large round table already without masks, but observing social distance, writes FAZ.

Previously, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Chancellor Merkel went into quarantine due to contact with infected COVID-19.

A few days ago, in Germany, against the backdrop of a rapid increase in the number of cases, the authorities tightened coronavirus restrictions, and curfews were introduced in some cities. In Berlin, the mask regime applies not only indoors, but also on the busiest streets, and quarantine is being phased in in some areas of Bavaria.

across the country were recorded On Wednesday , 7,595 new cases of COVID-19 . The highest number since the beginning of the pandemic was registered on Saturday - 7830 cases. In this regard, Angela Merkel recorded an appeal to the people, in which she asked to observe the precautionary measures on which "Christmas depends."