Italy: Coronavirus

(asked on 10th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on measures to limit the spread of covid-19.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 20th March 2020

The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Conte on 13 March. The two leaders discussed the importance of taking a transparent and science led approach in response to the virus. They also agreed on the need for international coordination, including through the G7. The UK's priority is to support the WHO and other multilateral actors to contain COVID-19 and mitigate secondary health and socio-economic impacts. Our approach is guided by?the Chief Medical Officer, working on the basis of the best possible scientific evidence. Our Embassy in Rome is in regular contact with officials from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Health Ministry and other government departments regarding COVID-19. This includes discussions this week between the Italian Minister with responsibility for the UK, Minister Scalfarotto, and our Ambassador to Rome. The Foreign Office maintains a similar dialogue with the Italian Embassy in London.

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