German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has cancelled all of her appointments after testing positive for Covid-19 shortly after her arrival in Pakistan, the German Press Agency tweeted on Tuesday. She had also held talks with her Pakistani counterpart, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardar.
Upon her arrival in Pakistan earlier today, Baerbock’s rapid antigen test was negative. However, another Covid-19 test was conducted after lunch when the foreign minister noticed that she had lost her sense of taste, according to a source in the German Foreign Ministry.
During that time, she planted a sapling along with a delegation from the Foreign Ministry. The Germany diplomat also held discussions with Bilawal Bhutto, after which the two held a joint press conference.
Following the development, FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also isolated himself, reported another source. However, Bilawal will continue official matters from his residence. He will continue in-person activities after his Covid-19 test will turn out negative, the source added.
Diplomatic sources say that all necessary measures have been taken to isolate the top diplomat and test all those who came in contact with her.
The Foreign Office is yet to confirm the news or whether FM Bilawal has been tested.
Earlier on Tuesday, FM Baerbock arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit at the invitation of her Pakistan counterpart.
On her arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM Bilawal, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and other senior officials accorded her a warm welcome.
Baerbock, who is Germany’s first female foreign minister, was also scheduled to meet PM Shehbaz Sharif.