Austria’s president Alexander Van der Bellen has apologized after breaking the country’s coronavirus curfew.
Van der Bellen remained at a restaurant on Saturday night after the 11 p.m. curfew time put in place by the Austrian government, according to the AFP news agency which cited Austria’s Kurier newspaper.
“I went out for the first time since the lockdown with two friends and my wife,” Van der Bellen said Sunday on Twitter, in reference to the Kurier report.
“We then lost track of time while chatting. I’m sincerely sorry. It was a mistake.”
Restaurants in Austria were allowed to reopen from May 15 but have to observe a number of social distancing restrictions and the 11 p.m. closing time.
The restaurant Van der Bellen visited could be fined for the curfew breach. The Austrian president said he would “take responsibility” if the owner incurred any losses from a fine.
Austria’s population of 8.8 million people have reported 16,453 cases of coronavirus as of Sunday and 640 deaths.
