COP27: U.S. climate envoy Kerry tests positive for COVID-19

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COP27 climate summit in Egypt
John Kerry, U.S. Special Envoy for Climate speaks as he attends the opening of the American Pavilion in the COP27 climate summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry has tested positive for COVID-19 at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, but continues to work by phone, the State Department said on Friday.

"He is fully vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms. He is working with his negotiations team and foreign counterparts by phone to ensure a successful outcome of COP27," State Department spokesperson Whitney Smith said in an emailed statement.

Kerry has been leading U.S. efforts to clinch at deal at the two-week summit in Sharm el-Sheikh and has held multiple bilateral meetings at the conference, including with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua on Thursday.

Kerry's voice was noticeable hoarse during speaking appearances on Thursday.

Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; editing by Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thomson Reuters

Valerie Volcovici covers U.S. environment and energy policy from Washington, DC. She is focused on climate and environmental regulations at federal agencies and in Congress. She also covers the impact of these regulatory changes across the United States. Other areas of coverage include plastic pollution and international climate negotiations.

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