US Climate Envoy John Kerry Contracts COVID-19 during COP27

U.S. special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry tested positive for the coronavirus during his visit to Egypt for COP27, the State Department announced late Friday.

In a statement, State Department Spokeswoman Whitney Smith noted that Kerry “is experiencing mild symptoms” and self-isolating in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Kerry’s illness will force him to defer the in-person conversations to others in the US delegation. The negotiations at COP27 have been stalled for days over questions of whether climate-vulnerable nations should receive compensation for the “loss and damages” of global warming, and, if so, who should pay.

“Hello, everybody. Good afternoon. And as you can tell from my profoundly low voice today, I have a cold,” he said. “But I’ve tested [for covid], so I’m okay.”

Kerry,78, is known for his intense travel schedule and his preference for putting in long hours of face-to-face talks.

On her part, Smith asserted that Kerry “is fully vaccinated and boosted,” adding that “He is working with his negotiations team and foreign counterparts by phone to ensure a successful outcome of COP27.”