Formula 1 mogul in hospital with Covid

SARDINIA - Flavio Briatore, 70, famous Formula 1 businessman and owner of luxury nightclub Billionaire is in a “serious condition” in hospital in Milan, reports L’Espresso.

 Briatore was reportedly taken to hospital with pneumonia symptoms and underwent a scan and swab for which he tested positive for Coronavirus, he is not in intensive care. In recent days Briatore had been in the spotlight for a heated exchange of words with the mayor of Arzachena over the government enforced closure of discoteques, including his nightclub Billionaire. 

 The nightclub, in the popular tourist destination of Porto Cervo, Sardinia, has witnessed an outbreak within its staff of Coronavirus cases. According to il Fatto quotidiano, more than 63 of the 90 staff members swabbed for the virus tested positive. Briatore had announced the enforced closure of the Billionaire, Aug. 18, lambasting the region’s mayor, saying “The heart weeps to see an economy massacred like this.” The mayor duly responded “It is a particular moment and our guard should be kept up, this mandate will protect the health of all and above all older people like you.” 

 During the Ferragosto holiday Briatore was pictured at a football match with other celebrities in the Cala di Volpe hotel. One notable attendee at the game was Serie A football manager Sinisa Mihajlovic who had also tested positive for the virus, he is reportedly isolating and asymptomatic. A few days earlier in Sardinia Briatore had met with ex-Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, reports il Fatto quotidiano. 

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