Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in quarantine at home after testing positive to COVID-19.
Mr Berlusconi, who once owned football giant AC Milan, stressed that he would continue his political activities.
"I will be present in the electoral campaign with interviews on televisions and in newspapers," he said during a video-conference of Forza Italia's women's movement.
However he recognised "the limitations imposed on my activities by testing positive for the coronavirus... but I will continue the battle."
Regional elections are due to take place in two weeks as well as a referendum on reducing the number of Italian parliamentarians.
Earlier, his party said that Mr Berlusconi, who will turn 84 at the end of September, had two tests come back positive, but "is continuing to work from his home in Arcore" near the financial hub Milan, "where he will be spending the planned quarantine period".
Silvio Berlusconi was the long-time president of football giant AC Milan Source: AP
"He is asymptomatic," said his doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, according to the daily La Repubblica.
Mr Berlusconi was first tested on 25 August after returning from a holiday in Sardinia where he owns a luxury property.
The result was negative, but he was tested again after some people he met on the Italian island were found to be positive.
These included businessman Flavio Briatore, former managing director of the Benetton Formula One racing team, who was briefly hospitalised in Milan.
Silvio Berlusconi attending a conference in Rome Source: SIPA USA
Mr Briatore's "Le Billionnaire" nightclub in Sardinia was closed down in August after employees tested positive for the coronavirus.
Messages of support for Mr Berlusconi came in from all sides of the political spectrum.
Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League party, wished him a swift recovery, as did former left wing prime minister Matteo Renzi.
Mr Berlusconi had left for France in late February, at a time when Italy was becoming the epicentre of COVID-19 in Europe.
Flavio Briatore (right) celebrates Fernando Alonso's victory at the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix Source: AP
Forza Italia number two Antonio Tajani said at the time that doctors had warned the political veteran to actively avoid becoming infected.
