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Former President Ahtisaari confirms second positive Covid diagnosis

The 84-year-old Ahtisaari was previously diagnosed with Covid in March 2020.

 Presidentti Martti Ahtisaari yleisölehterillä vuoden 2018 valtiopäivien avajaisissa eduskunnassa Helsingissä.
Former President Martti Ahtisaari in 2018. Image: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva
  • Yle News

Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari has tested positive for Covid for a second time, according to the Office of the President. The infection was confirmed on Wednesday 29 December.

A press release said that Ahtisaari is doing well under the circumstances, but he is receiving hospital treatment.

The 84-year-old former president was previously diagnosed with Covid in March 2020. At that time, his wife Eeva Ahtisaari was also diagnosed with the virus.

Ahtisaari also suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has withdrawn from all public activities as a result. The Office of the President of the Republic announced his retirement in September this year.

Martti Ahtisaari was Finland's 10th President and held office from 1994 - 2000. He is a Nobel Laureate, having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his work in international conflict resolution.

He is also the founder of the Crisis Management Initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to mediation and conflict resolution.