MECXICO CITY: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has publicly stated that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

Taking to Twitter, the 67-year-old said that his symptoms were mild and that he was “optimistic” following the diagnosis.

The development comes as Mexico grapples with an upsurge in infections, with deaths nearing 150,000.

López Obrador says he will continue working from home, including speaking to President Vladimir Putin about acquiring a Russian-made vaccine.

The COVID-19 death toll reached has 149,084 with 1,470 deaths in the past 24 hours in the country. Similarly, the number of infection cases has climbed to 1,752,347 with 20,057 new infection cases.

(With inputs from Agencies)