German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in quarantine after a doctor who gave her a vaccine tested positive for coronavirus.

Ms Merkel was informed about the doctor's test shortly after holding a news conference Sunday about new measures to curb the spread of the virus, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

In a statement, Mr Seibert said the chanceller had received a precautionary vaccine Friday against pneumococcal infection.

He added the 65-year-old would work from home for the time being and undergo "regular tests" for COVID-19 in the coming days.

It comes as US Senator Rand Paul posted on twitter that he has tested positive for the illness- the first US senator to say they have caught it.

In the conference Ms Merkel held shortly before being tolf about the doctor's diagnosis, she announced a nationwide ban on public meetings of more than two people outside of work.

She said the ban would be in place for at least two weeks.