Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Covid scare at G7 meeting after Indian delegates test positive

INDIA'S entire delegation in London to attend the G7 summit is isolating after two of its members tested positive for Covid-19, ther British government said on Wednesday (5).

"Two delegates tested positive so the entire delegation is now self isolating," a British official said.


"The meeting had been enabled by a strict set of Covid protocols, including daily testing of all delegates," the British official said.

Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar did not test positive for the virus, Sky News reporter Joe Pike said on Twitter. Jaishankar was pictured meeting British interior minister Priti Patel on Tuesday (4).

However, Jaishankar said on Wednesday (5) he will join the ongoing G7 meetings in London virtually after he was informed about exposure to people with possible coronavirus infection.

"Was made aware yesterday (4) 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 (5) as well."

Earlier, British vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said he was unaware of a report that delegates from G7 countries were self-isolating because of a Covid-19 scare.

India is not a G7 member but was invited by Britain to this week's summit, along with Australia, South Africa and South Korea.

More For You

pharmacy

The UK spends just 9 per cent of healthcare budgets on medicines while patients face growing access gaps.

iStock

UK calls for new pharmaceutical investment to strengthen life sciences

Highlights

  • UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
  • Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
  • Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.

Investment gap

Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.

Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.

Keep ReadingShow less