Swiss president tests positive for COVID as restrictions lifted

GENEVA

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, tested positive for COVID-19 on the day coronavirus restrictions were lifted in Switzerland, the government has confirmed.

Cassis, also foreign minister, tested positive following a PCR test on Wednesday afternoon, the government announced in a statement on Thursday.

On the day the government made its announcement in the capital Bern, Twitter user @Ann_Waeltin sent a tweet that went viral showing Cassis coughing briefly and then speaking.

She tweeted in German: "Swiss Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis took off his mask at yesterday's press conference, laughed, coughed, and announced the lifting of the measures.

"Today, it was announced that he is corona positive."

On Wednesday, the Swiss government said it would drop most of its COVID-19 restrictions despite the omicron variant triggering record levels of infections.

The government statement on Cassis said he underwent a PCR test due to his participation in the Munich Security Conference on Friday and Saturday.

"The test came back positive, and the president went into self-isolation this morning as soon as he learned of the test result. Mr. Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health," said the government statement.

The Swiss government said Cassia will work from his home until Sunday.

"Until then, he will not participate in any planned demonstrations and will therefore not attend the Munich Security Conference, which will take place on Friday and Saturday this week," according to the statement.