World Bank president nominee Ajay Banga tests positive for Covid-19 in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The United States nominee for World Bank President, Indian-American Ajay Banga, who arrived in Delhi on a two-day visit on Thursday, tested positive for Covid-19 during a routine testing, according to a spokesperson of the embassy.

Banga was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the minister of finance Nirmala Sitharaman and minister of external affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar but the meetings have been cancelled.

According to a finance ministry statement, Banga's meeting with Sitharaman would not happen as he is in quarantine.

The US Embassy spokesperson said Banga remains asymptomatic and in adherence with local guidelines, he is quarantining in isolation.

Banga tested positive upon arrival in Delhi, even as he conducted multiple tests for Covid during his tour, and tested negative before departing for India, according to the US Embassy spokesperson.

Banga’s visit to New Delhi was capping a three-week global listening tour that began in Africa before progressing to Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

(with inputs from agencies)