ECB’s Lagarde Isolated Herself Temporarily After Virus Contact

(Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde isolated herself last week following exposure to a person with the coronavirus, according to two people familiar with the matter.

An ECB spokesman declined to comment, but said the president has been working in her office this week.

The precautionary measures haven’t prevented Lagarde from leading policy discussions. Last Wednesday, the central bank’s 25-member Governing Council held an emergency call which resulted in an additional 750 billion-euro ($828 billion) stimulus package. Upcoming scheduled meetings will be held by video conference.

The 64-year-old ECB chief is one of several top policy makers in the region to take self-isolation measures, highlighting the challenge they face in devising coordinated responses to the pandemic while also taking personal steps to limit contagion.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been self-quarantined since late last week, after seeing a doctor who later tested positive for the disease. She has received two negative test results since then but remains at home. German finance minister Olaf Scholz underwent a precautionary self-isolation period, but tested negative for the disease.

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