Polish president has no symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19: aide

Polish President Andrzej Duda is feeling fine and has no symptoms after testing positive for the coronavirus, an aide said on Monday.

Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange

Andrzej Dera, who is a senior presidential adviser, updated reporters after Duda told Poles in a video message on Saturday that he was in good health and not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms while staying in isolation together with the first lady.

pic.twitter.com/2pfRdXl0R4

— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) October 24, 2020

Dera told reporters on Monday that the Polish head of state had probably been infected by a member of his security detail “despite following health protocols.”

Dera added that staying in small spaces, such as a car, made it difficult to maintain full precautions and avoid being infected.

Meanwhile, Duda’s press spokesman Błażej Spychalski said in a social media post on Monday that he was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while in quarantine.

Błażej Spychalski. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

“Thank you for all the wishes for a speedy recovery; unfortunately, I am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms,” Spychalski tweeted on Monday. 

He added: “I’m asking for your understanding that I may not be able to answer calls and text messages during the next few days.”

Dziękuję za wszystkie przesłane życzenia szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia. Niestety COVID-19 przebiega u mnie w sposób objawowy. Proszę także o zrozumienie, że przez najbliższe kilka dni mogę nie odpowiadać na telefony bądź SMS-y. Pamiętajcie proszę - maseczka, dystans, dezynfekcja.

— Błażej Spychalski (@spychalski_b) October 26, 2020

Andrzej Duda and Błażej Spychalski. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak

A day earlier Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak revealed he had contracted the coronavirus.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, PAP