EU Commissioner Dombrovskis goes into coronavirus quarantine

Commission executive vice president says he came into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s executive vice president and acting trade commissioner, has gone into self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

“Today I was informed that someone I met earlier this week has tested positive for Covid-19. During the meeting physical distancing was observed. I have no symptoms and feel well. In line with public health guidance, I have taken a test and am self-isolating and working from home,” the Latvian commissioner tweeted today.

Dombrovskis was scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday on the EU’s capital markets union and digital finance. He was also set to face a hearing in the European Parliament’s trade committee on October 2 about his newly designated trade portfolio. It was not immediately clear if he would still participate in those events.

The news comes a day after European Council President Charles Michel postponed a meeting of EU leaders originally set for this week so that he could go into self-quarantine after a security officer who had been in close contact with him tested positive for the virus.