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Ajay Banga, US’ World Bank candidate, tests Covid-19 positive upon arrival in India
Banga arrived in New Delhi for what was to be a two-day visit as the last leg of a three-week global tour to drum up support for his candidature
Ajay Banga, the United States nominee for World Bank president, tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in India on Thursday and is quarantining in isolation.
Banga arrived in New Delhi for what was to be a two-day visit as the last leg of a three-week global tour to drum up support for his candidature. He began the tour in Africa and then travelled to Europe, Latin America and Asia.
He was originally scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.
“During routine testing, Ajay Banga tested positive for Covid-19 but remains asymptomatic. In adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation,” said a statement from the US treasury department.
“Additional information will be provided about Banga’s schedule in India when available,” it said.
Banga tested positive on arrival in New Delhi, a US embassy spokesperson said. He had conducted multiple tests for Covid-19 during his tour and tested negative before departing for India.
The spokesperson said Banga had not met with any Indian counterparts. “He is quarantining in isolation, in adherence to local guidelines.”
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It had earlier been expected that Banga’s discussions with his Indian interlocutors would focus on the country’s development priorities, the World Bank and global economic development challenges.
The Indian government endorsed Banga’s candidacy soon after his nomination was announced. He has also received support from Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
