G7 delegation in isolation in UK after Covid scare

NEW DELHI: The Indian delegation led by external affairs minister S Jaishankar to the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London was self-isolating on Wednesday after two members tested positive for Covid-19, triggering a scare at the event.

Jaishankar tweeted he had become aware of “exposure to possible Covid positive cases” and would conduct all his engagements in London virtually, including participation in the G7 meet on Wednesday.

He subsequently tweeted an image of himself holding a virtual meeting with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau.

Public Health England asked the Indian delegation to self-isolate, according to BBC. A British official confirmed two positive tests among the delegation. British rules require a 10-day selfisolation period.

The report of the Indian delegates testing positive immediately triggered Covid-19 worries at the G7 meeting. There were also questions as to whether members of other delegations had been exposed in any manner.

The Indian delegation, led by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, to the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London was self-isolating on Wednesday after two members tested positive for Covid-19, triggering a scare at the event.

Jaishankar tweeted he became aware of “exposure to possible Covid positive cases” and would conduct all his engagements in London virtually, including participation in the G7 meet on Wednesday.

Public Health England, which deals with issues such as infectious diseases, asked the Indian delegation to self-isolate, according to BBC. A British official confirmed two positive tests among the delegation. British rules require a 10-day self-isolation period.

“Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well,” said a tweet by Jaishankar, who is on his first foreign trip after India was hit by a devastating second wave of infections. Jaishankar subsequently tweeted an image of himself holding a virtual meeting with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau.

The report of the delegates testing positive immediately triggered Covid-19 worries at the G7 meeting. There were also questions as to whether members of other delegations had been exposed in any manner.

People familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity that all members of the Indian delegation in London had tested negative on Sunday. The Indian side is working with UK health authorities to ascertain the level of exposure and what needs to be done regarding the delegation’s travel plans, the people said.

British high commissioner Alex Ellis in New Delhi said that UK authorities have protocols in place for the G7 meeting which will determine how such an incident is handled.

While participating in a live virtual event with the theme “Does India have a plan? From survival to revival”, Jaishankar described the second wave of infections as an “all consuming” challenge and admitted that India’s health system “stands exposed”. Asked if the government took its eye off the ball with regard to the pandemic, he said: “There were repeated advisories going out and public health teams sent out. There was a move to ramp up oxygen production. The reality unfortunately was, as the numbers came down there was an amount of public confidence. This is genuinely not a blame game, but I don’t think anyone can say we kept our guard up all the time.”

Jaishankar added, “With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to say we shouldn’t have allowed gatherings of any kind. ..We are a deeply democratic and political country and in a democracy, you can’t not have elections. Elections are sacrosanct.”

The elections in four states and a UT through the month of April, saw several leaders address large gatherings, where there was almost no compliance with Covid-safety protocols. April also saw a large religious gathering, the MahaKumbh, which attracted millions of pilgrims to Uttarakhand.

India is not a member of the G7 and was invited to the meeting as a guest along with Australia, South Korea, South Africa and the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Jaishankar met British interior minister Priti Patel on Tuesday. Patel didn’t have to self-isolate because the meeting was held in line with existing rules.

Jaishankar held bilateral meetings in London with US secretary of state Antony Blinken, South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and a trilateral meeting with Australian foreign minister Marise Payne and French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode... S JAISHANKAR, external affairs minister