Canada's Trudeau tests positive for Covid-19 after Americas summit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was vaccinated and boosted, previously tested positive for the virus in January

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the Summit of the Americas. AP

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 — making it his second bout with the illness this year — but that he was feeling OK and isolating in line with health guidelines.

Mr Trudeau was at the Summit of the Americas in California last week, where he met US President Joe Biden and other leaders to discuss issues affecting the region. He returned to Ottawa on Saturday.

"I've tested positive for Covid-19. I'll be following public health guidelines and isolating. I feel okay, but that's because I got my shots," Mr Trudeau said in a tweet, urging others to get vaccinated or boosted, if eligible.

"Let's protect our healthcare system, each other, and ourselves," he said.

Mr Trudeau met US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday and later attended a luncheon hosted by Mr Biden, according to his itinerary. Mr Biden was deemed as not a close contact, a White House official said on Monday.

Mr Trudeau's itinerary also included bilateral meetings with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader on Friday.

Mr Trudeau's positive test comes just days after his government said it would suspend random Covid testing at Canada's airports for the rest of June to help ease long travel wait times.

The ruling Liberals have faced criticism over their continuing pandemic restrictions, including barring unvaccinated people from traveling on planes and vaccine mandates for federal civil servants.

Earlier this year, anti-vaccine mandate protesters occupied the streets outside the prime minister's office and Canada's parliament buildings, using hundreds of lorries and other vehicles to clog Ottawa's downtown core for three weeks.

They were cleared out in mid-February after Mr Trudeau invoked rarely used emergency powers.

Mr Trudeau previously tested positive for Covid-19 in January.

In March 2020, Mr Trudeau ran the country while self-isolating for 14 days after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, tested positive.