Ex-Buenos Aires Province governor María Eugenia Vidal tests positive for Covid-19

Former Buenos Aires Province governor María Eugenia Vidal has tested positive for the novel Covid-19 coronavirus.

The opposition Juntos por el Cambio leader was tested earlier in the day, one day after Buenos Aires Province lawmaker Alex Campbell also tested positive.

Vidal had been in close contact with Campbell in recent days, hence why she was tested.

"I want to tell you that a couple of hours ago I was confirmed as positive for Covid-19. I thank all those who are writing to me with concern. I am fine, complying with the isolation and the corresponding medical indications. Take care of yourselves and your families," said Vidal in a tweet confirming the news.

Officials close to Vidal confirmed that the former governor – who lost last year's election to Peronist candidate Axel Kicillof – had felt "light symptoms" and reported feeling tired and a loss of appetite. She has not suffered a fever, sources confirmed to Perfil.

Vidal is the first high-profile name from Argentina's political landscape to be infected with the virus.

Last week, Lomas de Zamora's Peronist Mayor Martín Insaurralde also tested positive for Covid-19. 

Campbell is believed to have attended a meeting at which Insaurralde was present recently. 

Local reports said the focus would now turn to who had been in close contact with Vidal recently.

Infobae reported Friday that the former governor shared a meal with Buenos Aires City Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, national senator Martín Lousteau and the former head of the Chamber of Deputies, Emilio Monzo.

The website also said that at least half the opposition deputies in the Buenos Aires provincial legislature were tested on Tuesday after coming into contact with Campbell.

– TIMES/AFP