Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19.
The Liberal Party leader tweeted that he tested positive Monday morning and would continue to follow public health guidelines while working remotely for the remainder of the week. He used the announcement to encourage Canadians to get vaccinated and boosted like he is. (RELATED: Unvaccinated Must Be ‘Accompanied At All Times’ While Shopping At Big Box Stores, Canadian Health Ministry Says)
This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m feeling fine – and I’ll continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines. Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 31, 2022
Trudeau was already working remotely, as he and his family were reportedly moved to a secret location Saturday due to mass protests in Ottawa against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Thousands of truckers and their supporters shut down traffic and flooded the streets surrounding the Canadian parliament beginning Saturday in protest of a cross-border trucking vaccine mandate imposed earlier in January, in addition to other pandemic-related restrictions on unvaccinated Canadians.
Trudeau condemned the protesters, calling them a “fringe minority” that isn’t representative of Canadians at-large. The demonstrations garnered some support in the U.S. from celebrities like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk, as well as Republican politicians and media figures like former President Donald Trump.
The Canadian prime minister is one of many world leaders to test positive for the virus in recent months. Canada is experiencing decline in its Omicron wave of the virus, from a recent peak of more than 40,000 cases per day.