PCR test confirms Latvian president's COVID-19 diagnosis

RIGA - Latvian President Egils Levits has contracted COVID-19, his office said Thursday after a PCR test confirmed the positive result of an earlier rapid test.

Andris Teikmanis, head of the president's office, said on public television that Levits took the PCR test on Thursday after the rapid test on Wednesday evening came back positive.

Teikmanis said that the president's symptoms were light and he was feeling generally well.

Considering his diagnosis, Levits cancelled all his arrangements for the nearest weeks, including a meeting with visiting Estonian President Alar Karis.

Levits will keep working remotely, his office said.

The president, who was among the first high-ranked Latvian officials to get immunized against COVID-19, received the first vaccine shot in mid-February and completed his vaccination course on April 29.