Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the president of Portugal will be quarantined at his private residence for two weeks over the rapid spread of coronavirus around the world.

His office announced in a statement that he suspended his official engagements for two weeks and is to be monitored at home, “despite not presenting any symptoms” of infection with the new coronavirus, 

According to the statement, the president received a group of students from a school in northern Portugal last Tuesday at an event and took photos with them. Four days later, a student from the school was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19.

“Having listened to the health authorities, the President of the Republic, despite not having any viral symptoms, decided to cancel all his public activity… during the next two weeks,” said the statement.

“At the moment when all the Portuguese demonstrate high civic maturity in the face of the viral outbreak, the President of the Republic understands that he must give a reinforced example of prevention,” the statement added

On Sunday, Portugal confirmed nine new cases, bringing the total to 30.