Ursula von der Leyen leaves EU summit after staffer tests positive for Covid-19

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Oliver Hoslet/AP)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been forced to leave the EU summit shortly after it opened because one of her close staffers tested positive for Covid-19.

She said on Thursday that she herself tested negative, but “as a precaution I am immediately leaving the European Council to go into self-isolation”.