Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, 82, is infected with coronavirus, along with his wife, 83
- He was confirmed to have virus on Monday, the Finnish president’s Office said
- The 82-year-old was awarded the Peace Prize in 2008 for mediating peace deals
- Finnish health authorities have confirmed 700 cases of COVID-19 and one death
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Nobel laureate and former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari has contracted coronavirus, his office said today.
The 82-year-old was awarded the Peace Prize in 2008 for his career over three decades mediating peace deals to conflicts around the world, including Indonesia, Kosovo and Namibia.
The former UN diplomat, who went on to serve in Finland’s highest office between 1994 and 2000, was confirmed to have caught the virus on Monday, the Finnish president’s Office said in a statement.
Nobel laureate and former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari (pictured) has contracted coronavirus, his office said today
‘President Ahtisaari is doing well given the circumstances,’ it said.
On Saturday, Ahtisaari’s 83-year-old wife Eeva also tested positive for the infection.
Finnish health authorities have confirmed 700 cases of COVID-19, and one death, although not all suspected infections are being tested.
On Saturday, Ahtisaari’s 83-year-old wife Eeva (right) also tested positive for the infection
Finnish health authorities have confirmed 700 cases of COVID-19, and one death, although not all suspected infections are being tested. Pictured: a person wearing protective clothes takes samples from people arriving in their cars at a testing drive-in station in Espoo, Finland
Officials have said the real number of people with the virus could be 30 times higher.
Schools in Finland are shut to children over the age of 10, and the country’s borders have been closed to all visitors who are not residents or citizens.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Monday that further restrictions on movement would be announced imminently.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (pictured) said on Monday that further restrictions on movement would be announced imminently