Latvian President Tests Positive for COVID-19

Latvian President Egils Levits has tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a rapid test ahead of a meeting with Estonia's new president, Alar Karis, as reported by the Latvian portal LSM.lv.

"State leader Egils Levits submitted a rapid test for COVID-19 the day before his meeting with Estonia's new president, Alar Karis, and the presence of the virus was confirmed. Therefore, during Karis's official visit on October 14, he will be received by the Speaker of the Saeima, Ināra Mūrniece. Levits took the test on the evening of October 13, after returning from Sweden. He will undergo a PCR test today," the message stated.

It was noted that Levits personally contacted his Estonian counterpart by phone to explain the situation and requested to reschedule the meeting that was set to take place at the Riga Castle on Thursday.

As the portal adds, Levits had met with representatives of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Sweden the day prior and discussed human rights issues. During his official visit, he also participated in an international conference in Malmö to commemorate the Holocaust.

On Friday, Levits was scheduled to hold official meetings with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.