Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
In a statement from his office, Blanchet said that he is doing “perfectly well,” but he will stay in isolation at his home in Shawinigan, Que., until Sept. 26. in accordance with Quebec public health rules.
“The leader of the Bloc Québécois underlines the importance of distancing measures, the wearing of masks and of hand washing and invites Quebeckers to follow the instructions of the Government of Quebec if they show symptoms or if they have been in close contact with an affected person,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, Blanchet’s wife Nancy Déziel was also diagnosed with COVID-19, which led to the Bloc leader deciding to also get tested as a precaution.
According to The Canadian Press, Blanchet was already in self-isolation; one of his staff members had tested positive, resulting in multiple members of his caucus and other aides to also isolate.
Blanchet is the first federal party leader to test positive for COVID-19. Earlier in the pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also self-isolated after his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was diagnosed with the respiratory virus.
Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole is currently in self-isolation with his family. They were tested Thursday, after one of his staff members tested positive earlier this week.
