The invitation had been sent several days ago.
On Wednesday evening, the President of the Republic brought together the main leaders and strategists of the majority, at the Elysee, for a working dinner.
On the menu: preparation for regional elections, structuring of the majority, inventory of the political situation.
At that time, Emmanuel Macron was still unaware that he had contracted the coronavirus.
Around a large table in the Salle des Fêtes du Palais, the Head of State was surrounded by the Secretary General of the Élysée, Alexis Kohler, to his right, and Richard Ferrand, President of the National Assembly, to his left.
In front of him stood Jean Castex, his Prime Minister.
The parliamentary leaders Christophe Castaner (La République en Marche) and Patrick Mignola (MoDem) were among the guests, like the party leaders Stanislas Guerini and François Bayrou.
Emmanuel Macron's political advisers, Thierry Solère and Stéphane Séjourné, were also present.
Only two contact cases identified
The officials were widely spaced from each other.
The meeting ended around midnight.
"During this working dinner, distance, barrier gestures and wearing a mask"
were respected, indicates a close friend of the Head of State.
So that only Alexis Kohler and Richard Ferrand, his table neighbors, are considered as contact cases of the president.
During the evening, "
the president did not look ill at all, he did not cough, did not look feverish,"
assures a participant.
Both were speaking into microphones.
To read also: Covid-19: Jean Castex, Brigitte Macron, Richard Ferrand ... Who are the potential "contact cases" of Macron?
The Élysée contacted all the leaders on Thursday morning to inform them that the president had tested positive.
“At least with a young president, there is little chance that he will contract a serious form
, philosopher at the top of the state.
And this shows that in a period of recrudescence of the epidemic, the risks are indeed increased.
"