Trudeau, under quarantine, still governs Canada

>>OTTAWA: His children play with Lego in their rooms, his wife spends a lot of time on the phone: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday offered a glimpse into the Canadian first family’s Covid-19 quarantine while reassuring an anxious nation that he continues to govern.

“I want to be clear. I have no symptoms. I’m feeling good. Technology allows me to work from home,” Mr Trudeau told a news conference outside his official residence in Ottawa.

Standing alone in front of the small brick cottage, journalists giving him several metres clearance, the prime minister spoke publicly for the first time since his wife Sophie tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

The announcement was made late on Thursday that the 48-year-old Canadian leader, his 44-year-old wife and their three children, aged 6-12, would be confined for 14 days to the house a few kilometres from parliament.

He said “telegoverning” is an “inconvenience and somewhat frustrating”.

“We’re all social beings after all, but we have to do this,” he said.

Public health officials have asked all Canadians to self-isolate if they exhibit any flu-like symptoms and get tested for Covid-19, especially if they recently travelled outside the country.

“We are following medical advice as should all Canadians,” Mr Trudeau said.

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau started feeling flu-like symptoms including a low fever late on Wednesday after flying back from a speaking engagement in London.

“Sophie’s symptoms remain mild,” Mr Trudeau said. “We are thinking about all the families across the country who have received the same diagnosis, but we’re in good hands.”

Working from home, Mr Trudeau has maintained a busy schedule: phone calls to Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Giuseppe Conte, Canadian provincial and territorial leaders, and others.

He said he has remained in contact with his cabinet and officials.