Riksbank deputy tests positive for coronavirus

Sveriges Riksbank’s deputy governor Martin Flodén has become possibly the first senior central banker to contract the coronavirus.

The Riksbank put out a statement today (March 9) saying an employee had tested positive for the virus after returning from holiday in Northern Italy. A spokesperson confirmed to Central Banking that the individual in question was Flodén, which had originally been reported by Reuters.

The Riksbank stressed that Flodén had not had contact with any other employees of the central bank, nor had he taken part in any external meetings. He is currently working from home.

The central bank has taken precautions against the virus, which it says go beyond the current recommendations of the Swedish Public Health Agency. Employees who have travelled to the worst-affected areas must work from home for two weeks on their return.

The Riksbank is also “urging” employees to avoid all non-essential business trips abroad.

Confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide hit a cumulative total of 111,363 today, though 62,375 people have recovered from the virus, most of them in mainland China. Italy currently has the third-most cases at 7,375, behind South Korea, at 7,478.

Sweden currently has 203 confirmed cases.