Former Finnish President Tests Positive for Chinese Coronavirus

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari attends a luncheon of political journalists, in
RONI REKOMAA/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Tomlinson

Finland’s former President Martti Ahtisaari has been diagnosed with the Chinese coronavirus just days after his wife had been confirmed to be infected.

Finland’s Office of the President of the Republic confirmed that the 82-year-old had tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday afternoon, stating that Ahtisaari was feeling well at the current time.

The case comes after the office reported that Eeva Ahtisaari, who is also in her eighties, had been diagnosed with the disease, according to Yle.

Both former President Ahtisaari and his wife had previously attended a Helsinki Music Centre Women’s Day celebration concert on March 8th, at which a person with a confirmed case of the disease had also been present.

All performers, staff, and audience members may have been exposed to coronavirus and authorities have told those who attended to be mindful of their own health and watch for symptoms.

According to an Imperial College London estimate, those over the age of 80 face the highest mortality risk from the virus.

The infection of the former Finnish head of state comes as several other prominent politicians have either been confirmed to have caught the coronavirus or have self-isolated due to coming into contact with a person with a confirmed case.

Nicola Zingaretti of Italy’s Democratic Party (PD) was diagnosed with the disease earlier this month and was the first major politician in Italy, which has become the epicentre of the outbreak, to contract the disease.

His case was followed by several other prominent politicians, including French culture minister Franck Riester and Spanish populist politician and leader of VOX Santiago Abascal.

Last week, Abascal announced he had overcome the virus and subsequently tested negative for it after a week in isolation.

The most senior politician to be affected by the virus has been German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who placed herself into self-isolation over the weekend after coming into contact with a doctor who tested positive for the virus.

Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at @TomlinsonCJ or email at ctomlinson(at)breitbart.com

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