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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Jonathan Coles

Covid outbreak at the G7 in London as two cases confirmed among India delegation

India's entire delegation to a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in London is self-isolating after two members tested positive for COVID-19, it has been confirmed.

A British Government official said the move was in line with pre-established protocols, which included daily testing for all attendees.

Although not a G7 member, India was invited to attend the first in-person meeting of the group's foreign ministers in more than two years this week.

India - a 'red list' travel country - is currently in the grips of a Covid crisis as a second wave rips through its population.

The country's foreign minister, Subrahmanyan Jaishankar, said he will join ongoing meetings via video call after he was informed about the possible infections.

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Foreign secretary Dominic Raab poses with Australia's foreign minister Marise Payne at the meeting (REUTERS)

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

"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."

A senior British diplomat added: "We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing."

Priti Patel, the home secretary, tweeted a picture of her and Mr Jaishankar meeting on Tuesday - she has not been told to self-isolate, according to reports.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said he was unaware of the outbreak when asked on Sky News earlier on Wednesday.

He said: "I don't I'm afraid, but obviously Public Health England and the team that are organising G7 take this very seriously.

"We continue to have one of the most robust set of protocols around testing and so we will make sure that happens, but I don't know the numbers."

He added: "This is news to me... I can't really comment."

The news broke as foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations arrived at Lancaster House for the second day of their summit on Wednesday.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, wearing a face mask, arrived at the venue ahead of officials from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and the EU.

He welcomed them in the courtyard, including guests invited as part of the UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific region, with an elbow bump replacing the usual handshake.

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