2 OFFICIALS IN INDIAN TEAM TO G7 MEET TEST COVID POSITIVE

In a major embarrassment to India, two members of the official Indian delegation in London ahead of the G-7 meeting reportedly tested Covid positive on Wednesday, according to international media reports that quoted a British government official.

Soon after the news broke, external affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar tweeted that he had been informed on Tuesday evening about “exposure to possible Covid positive cases” and that he would now attend the G-7 meeting in virtual mode out of “abundant caution and also out of consideration for others.”

British media reports also said that the entire delegation was in isolation and that Jaishankar had tested negative.

But sources said all members of the Indian delegation had tested negative before their departure from New Delhi. This would then mean that two of these Indian delegation-members in that case seem to have tested positive in London after testing negative initially in New Delhi.

Another worry is that Jaishankar had met both US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and British Home Secretary Priti Patel in-person in London in the past two days raising questions now on whether they need to be in precautionary self-isolation as well.

● Another worry is that Jaishankar had met both US Secretary of State and British Home Secretary inperson in London raising questions on whether they need to be in precautionary self-isolation as well.