President Erdoğan tests positive for COVID-19

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Feb. 5 he had tested positive for Covid-19 but was not experiencing severe symptoms.

"After experiencing light symptoms, my wife and I tested positive for Covid-19. We have a mild infection thankfully, which we learned to be the Omicron variant" the president said in a tweet.

'We are on duty. We will continue to work at home. We look forward to your prayers,' he said. 

Erdoğan, 67, sent the message after appearing via videolink at a tunnel-opening ceremony from Istanbul, having canceled his appearance in person.

The president showed no signs of illness in his televised appearance.

First Lady Emine Erdoğan tweeted that they hoped to get through their illness together as soon as possible.

Politicians and opposition leaders wished Erdoğan and the first lady speedy recovery.