Wilmes, 45, who passed the reins to Alexander de Croo earlier this month and is now Belgium’s foreign minister, announced last week that he had tested positive and was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Elke Pattyn told The Associated Press that Wilmes is in a solid and conscious condition. She said her condition “is not a concern. “
Wilmes in rate when the first wave of infections hit the country this spring. He said last week that he thought he had swelled up in his circle of relatives.
De Croo and Charles Michel, former Belgian Prime Minister who now chairs the Council of the European Union, were some of the many politicians who sent messages to Wilmes.
“All my love and friendship to Sophie Wilmes who led the national match opposed to COVID-19 and will now have to fight it personally,” Michel said in a message posted on Twitter.
Belgium, a country of 11. 5 million more people, has been heavily affected by the coronavirus and is currently experiencing a strong accumulation of new cases. More than 10,000 other people have died as a result of coronavirus-like headaches in Belgium.
Wilmes became Belgium’s first female prime minister in October last year when she succeeded Michel. She was first appointed to office, then led a government with special powers to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Wilmes praised his soft touch as he calmly drove the country through the crisis.
Born in Brussels, Wilmes began her political career as a councillor in the Belgian capital and joined the federal government in 2015 as budget minister.
She resigned this month when De Croo took office after nearly a year and part of complex negotiations between parties divided into linguistic and political lines.
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