Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel in ‘serious but stable condition’ after being hospitalised with Covid-19

Luxembourg has recorded close to 71,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic started

File image: Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel leaves at the end of an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Friday, 25 June, 2021 (AP)

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is in a “serious but stable” condition after being hospitalised with Covid-19 on Sunday, the government said.

Mr Bettel was diagnosed with insufficient oxygen saturation, forcing him to remain under medical observation since the weekend. He was also suffering from other coronavirus symptoms including coughing, headaches and a fever.“

“The medical state of the prime minister is considered serious but stable,” the government said, adding that he will stay in hospital for up to four more days.

In a statement it added that the running of state affairs will be taken over by Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna in the meantime, even if Mr Bettel still coordinates some work remotely.

The prime minister has so far only received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Mr Bettel, 48, had recently participated in a two-day European Union summit in Brussels on 24-25 June which included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and other leaders from across Europe. On 27 June, the prime minister tested positive.

As yet there have been no reports of any other European leader testing positive for Covid-19 or being hospitalised after the summit last month.

The land-locked European country has a population of about 630,000 people. According to the World Health Organisation, Luxembourg has recorded 70,895 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 818 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The country had administered at least 577, 290 doses of the coronavirus vaccine according to the Covidvax.live website .

Luxembourg’s vaccination strategy also provides for offering vaccination to cross-border workers and Luxembourg nationals residing in other countries who do not have access to vaccination in their country of residence.

Ursula von der Leyen, who is the President of the European Commission, tweeted: “Dear [Xavier Bettel], I wish you a very speedy recovery and hope to see you soon in good health. In the meantime, rest and take good care of yourself.