German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in self-quarantine after a doctor who vaccinated her tested positive for coronavirus

REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the media in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital.

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel self-quarantined two days after she was in contact with a doctor who later tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
• Merkel's spokesman announced that she would continue her work while in quarantine.
• The news comes after the country's officials announced new restrictions on social contact among Germans to confront the coronavirus outbreak, including a ban on gatherings of two or more people.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has entered into quarantine after she came into contact with a doctor who later tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert announced that Merkel made the decision to self-quarantine two days after the doctor who administered to her a precautionary vaccine Friday against pneumococcal infection, according to the Associated Press. He reportedly said she would work from home while undergoing "regular" tests.

"Even from domestic quarantine, the Chancellor will continue her official business", Seibert said, according to German outlet DW.

The announcement came just after Merkel announced sweeping new restrictions for the country to address the coronavirus outbreak, including a ban on gatherings of two or more people.

As of March 22, Germany had 23,921 identified cases and 92 deaths, a rise similar to the country's European neighbors after the virus spread quickly to nearby countries like Italy, the most-affected country outside China with more than 53,500 cases and over 4,800 deaths.

Read more:

New York City's mayor warns April and May are going to be 'a lot worse' than March as coronavirus cases surge

London goes into lockdown: Here's what we know about how the coronavirus is shutting down the city

Coronavirus aid bill will include a one-time $3,000 payment for families and $4 trillion of liquidity for Fed to support the nation's economy: Mnuchin

New York governor weighs plan to immediately build four temporary hospitals on college campuses and convention centers to fight rising coronavirus infections

NOW WATCH: Can the US actually implement a nationwide lockdown?