Mirror

Boris Johnson insists G7 talks right to go ahead in person despite Covid outbreak

Mirror logo Mirror 5/05/2021 14:01:05 Lizzy Buchan

Boris Johnson has insisted that allowing a meeting of world leaders to take place in person was the right thing to do - despite a Covid outbreak amongst Indian delegates.

India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was forced to pull out of personally attending G7 talks in London after two people tested positive for coronavirus from the country's travelling delegation.

The entire party is now self-isolating in line with the UK's coronavirus rules.

The two cases were detected in advance and none of the party had attended the three-day meeting at Lancaster House, which marks the first face-to-face talks between foreign ministers in two years.

Asked if it had been a mistake to hold the summit in person, Mr Johnson told reporters on a campaign visit: "I think it's very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a Government.

"We have a very important relationship with India, with our G7 partners.

a person wearing a suit and tie: Home Secretary Priti Patal Bilat met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday © Tim Hammond / No10 Downing StreetHome Secretary Priti Patal Bilat met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday

"As I understand it what's happened is that the individuals concerned are all isolating now.

"I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later this afternoon but that will be a Zoom exchange."


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But Labour leader Keir Starmer said questions needed to be asked about how an outbreak had happened - and warned that the UK needs to remain vigilant over the risk of importing the virus from abroad.

India is currently facing a deadly wave of the virus, which has left hospitals across the country overwhelmed by the influx of cases.

Scientists in the UK have been monitoring Covid variants from India amid fears the different strains could be more transmissible.

Mr Jaishankar tweeted: "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."

Home Secretary Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister on Tuesday, but she has not been told to self-isolate.

The Indian delegation held other meetings but Public Health England said no further action was needed as rules on social distancing and mask-wearing were followed.

Mr Starmer said: "I do think we need to ask questions about how this happened, if only to make sure it is not repeated.

"It is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be about our borders - we've been challenging Government on this for some months."

India is not a G7 member but it had been invited to attend the talks as part of the UK's attempts to woo the country into signing a post-Brexit trade deal.

Coronavirus measures in place at the foreign ministers' meeting include regular testing and cleaning, and clear plastic screens between ministers at the summit table.

Face masks were worn for the official photograph and handshakes have been replaced by forearm bumps to avoid the risk of contamination.

mercredi 5 mai 2021 17:01:05 Categories: Mirror

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