French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the presidency said.

“The president tested positive for COVID-19 today,” it said in a statement, adding that he had been tested after the “onset of the first symptoms”.

Macron was tested after developing symptoms and will now self-isolate for seven days.

He “is still in charge” of running the country and will work remotely.

France this week ended a six-week national lockdown, replacing the measure with a curfew to help deal with soaring cases.

There have been nearly 2.5 million confirmed cases in the country since the epidemic began, with more than 59,400 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Over 59,300 people have died in France of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to official figures.

France plans to start rolling out its coronavirus vaccination programme from 27 December.