参加完印度大型活动的尼泊尔前国王夫妇 回国后确诊新冠

　　据新加坡联合早报消息 尼泊尔前国王贾南德拉夫妇近期到访印度出席当地百万人的大型宗教活动后，回国宣告确诊新冠。

　　73岁的贾南德拉与70岁的科玛尔本月参加在印度举行的大壶节，当地有成千上万的信徒聚集在恒河边。贾南德拉的发言人潘妮发声明证实两人确诊的消息，并称目前在家中隔离。

　　印度正值第二波疫情肆虐，各界要求停止庆典的呼声越来越大。自1月以来，这个印度最重大的宗教节日之一已吸引了多达2500万名信徒出席。由于大部分信徒无视防疫规则，且在事后返回各自地区，专家警告这场庆祝很可能演变为一场“超级传播事件”。一名印度教先知在节日后病逝，有数百名与会者检测呈阳性。

Ontario Premier Doug Ford in isolation after staff member tests positive for COVID-19

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office has announced he is self-isolating after being in close contact with a staff member in his office who tested positive for COVID-19.

According to a statement issued late Tuesday, Ford was in contact with the affected staff member on Monday.

The statement said that staff member was tested on Tuesday after being told they came into contact with someone who had COVID-19. It went on to say the employee received a positive test result Tuesday evening.

“Immediately upon learning that this staff member was even at risk of exposure, the premier left the legislature to be tested,” the statement said.

READ MORE: COVID-19: Ontario premier’s legislature absence questioned as #WhereIsDougFord trends on Twitter

“While his test results have returned negative, the premier will follow all public health advice for close contacts of positive cases, including isolating. He will do so in Toronto.”

Also, an undisclosed number of staff members from Ford’s office who were also in contact with the employee were ordered to isolate.

While waiting for further Toronto Public Health guidance, the statement said Ford will keep working.

“The premier will continue leading this government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic while in isolation, including briefings with officials and communicating with the public,” it said.

READ MORE: Ontario reports 3,469 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths

News of Ford’s isolation came on the same day questions were raised about his absence from question period.

After being absent from public view on Monday and Tuesday and missing question period both days, the hashtag #WhereIsDougFord became a trending topic on Twitter.

Ontario Deputy Premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott was questioned by reporters about Ford’s absence Tuesday afternoon.

“The premier has been very busy working to find more vaccines for Ontario and to assist in all of those efforts,” she said, adding he has been working “virtually full-time” on the province’s vaccination efforts.

“He is devoting his time to helping get us out of the pandemic so that we can get more vaccines into as many arms as possible so we can move towards a more normal life for all of us.”

On Sunday, Ford’s office announced he was contacting “international allies” after another delay was reported on Ontario’s allocation of Moderna vaccines.