German Cabinet Hit by COVID-19 Fallout... Ministers Enter Self-Quarantine One After Another

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] Ministers in the German cabinet have been consecutively confirmed to enter self-quarantine due to COVID-19.

On the 24th (local time), according to ntv and others, Peter Altmaier, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, entered self-quarantine. This followed a positive COVID-19 test result from a staff member of a member state minister who attended the European Union (EU) Trade Ministers' meeting held in Berlin on the 20th.

It has not yet been reported whether Minister Altmaier had contact with the infected staff member or with other member state ministers. However, his COVID-19 test result was negative.

The previous day, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas entered self-quarantine after a bodyguard tested positive for COVID-19. Minister Maas also tested negative but canceled his trip to Jordan due to self-quarantine.

Earlier, at the end of March during the early spread of COVID-19, Chancellor Angela Merkel had also undergone self-quarantine.

On the previous day, 2,143 new confirmed cases were reported in Germany. The cumulative number of confirmed cases stands at 278,070.