New Foreign Affairs Minister tests positive for COVID-19

The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd has tested positive for COVID-19.

The announcement was made by President Irfaan Ali moments ago.

President Ali said that all Government Ministers will undergo a COVID-19 test. According to President Ali, Todd informed that he came into contact with a positive patient.

The Ministry of Public Health has now embarked on a massive contact tracing campaign relating to Todd.

All Ministers have been instructed to work remotely until they receive the results of their COVID-19 test.

Todd was sworn in as the Minister on August 5 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre; he has since met with the President and other members of the Government and held familiarisation meetings with staff of the Foreign Ministry.

On Sunday last, he held a joint press conference at State House with the Foreign Minister of Suriname Albert Ramdin and other officials of the Surinamese delegation that visited Guyana for the inauguration ceremony of President Ali.

That ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre.

This story will be updated in a subsequent report.