COVID-19 shadow on diplomatic calendar

Evolving COVID-19 situation in Gujarat is posing threat to Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held Jan. 10 to 12

The growing shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic has put a question mark over the expected visits by several foreign dignitaries in January. Omicron and other recently identified variants are posing a challenge to international diplomatic travels that had eased somewhat over the past few months after the deadly second wave last year.

The evolving COVID-19 situation in Gujarat is posing a threat to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held between January 10 to 12. As on Tuesday, the State recorded 2,265 new infections, taking the active cases to 7,881, including 18 on ventilator support. Two Omicron cases have been recorded from Ahmedabad. So far, 154 Omicron cases have been diagnosed in the State.

The three-day summit is expected to be attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin along with a delegation that will include the Governors of the Russian Far East. Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba is also expected to participate in the event, which is scheduled to draw high-level business and political participation from at least 27 countries that will include, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Israel, Australia, Japan and Sri Lanka.