Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb of Rotterdam has tested positive for the corona virus, the municipality of Rotterdam announced on Monday.
Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb of Rotterdam has tested positive for the corona virus, the municipality of Rotterdam announced on Monday.
A spokesman for the municipality says that the 59-year-old mayor has mild complaints. Aboutaleb remains in isolation for seven days. He will continue to work from home during that period.
If his condition deteriorates, Aboutaleb can be replaced by Deputy Mayor Bert Wijbenga. The duties of the mayor in the security region will then be taken over by mayor Cor Lamers of Schiedam.
In July Aboutaleb, together with Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam, worked hard to make mouth masks mandatory. During that period, the number of infections rose sharply in a number of cities, but there was still little support for such a measure.
As a trial, the mayor made a mouth mask compulsory in the city center of Rotterdam in August. The trial ran for several weeks.
Aboutaleb recently joined the urgent advice of Prime Minister Mark Rutte to wear a face mask in public indoor spaces.