Taoiseach Michael Martin tests positive for Covid during Saint Patrick’s Day visit to Washington ahead of scheduled meeting with Joe Biden
Taoiseach Michael Martin has tested positive for Covid-19.
Martin tested the pose during a PCR test during a trip in Washington DC ahead of St Patrick’s Day.
Taoiseach will meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Mr Martin tested positive earlier on Wednesday after an initial result was negative after all members of the Irish delegation visiting Washington were tested and one member received a positive result.
Mr Martin was later retested and the result was positive.
Taoiseach Michael Martin at the Science Foundation Ireland ceremony in Washington DC, where he presented the award to John and Patrick Collison, founders of financial services firm Stripe, on Wednesday. Image: PA
It is likely that his plan to meet US President Joe Biden tomorrow at the White House will be cancelled.
The entire Irish delegation was tested for antigens before a large gala event.
Mr. Martin will receive the 2022 Ireland Foundation International Leadership Award at a grand gala in Washington DC.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced Taoiseach to accept the award but told the audience during her speech that he could not be here because he was “called”.
Irish Ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall accepted the award on his behalf and told the audience that Mr Martin had tested positive for Covid.
It is understood that Taoiseach is feeling well.
Taoiseach Michael Martin at the Science Foundation Ireland ceremony in Washington DC, where he presented the award to John and Patrick Collison, founders of financial services firm Stripe, on Wednesday. Image: PA
US President Joe Biden spoke before the gala event in the early hours of this evening.
He said the events had come “in full”, as he first met Mr Martin when he was vice president and Mr Martin was Secretary of State in 2009.
Wednesday night was the night the two men met for the first time before an official visit to the White House on Thursday.
Mr. Martin is expected to stay at Blair’s house on Wednesday night before meeting Mr. Biden on Thursday.
Taoiseach Michael Martin speaks at Science Ireland’s ceremony in Washington DC, where he presented the award to John and Patrick Collison, founders of financial services company, Stripe, during a St. Patrick’s Day visit to the US , on Wednesday. Photo: PA
Officials who accompanied Mr. Martin in the US said the White House had told them that Joe Biden was not a close contact.
It is believed Mr. Biden may still hold a virtual event with Mr. Martin on Thursday.
Mr Martin was at the Ireland Foundation gala dinner and sources said they had seen him wearing a mask.
It is understood that the person who tested positive for the antigen was part of a delegation traveling to Ireland.
Mr. Martin has been to Versailles and London in recent days.
More to follow…
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/taoiseach-micheal-martin-tests-positive-for-covid-on-st-patricks-day-visit-to-washington-ahead-of-planned-meeting-with-joe-biden-41456299.html Taoiseach Michael Martin tests positive for Covid during Saint Patrick’s Day visit to Washington ahead of scheduled meeting with Joe Biden