© BELGA
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Flemish climate minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) will not go to Glasgow on Sunday for the climate summit. Her chief of staff is infected with the corona virus, so international travel is out of the question for Demir. “Very rotten after three weeks of hard work on that climate plan,” says the minister. “But we can’t take any risks.”
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Guy Stevens
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Now that Flanders has a climate plan, Zuhal Demir, in her position as Minister of the Environment (N-VA), would go to the climate summit in Glasgow with that plan under her arm. But that will not happen, as is confirmed to us from her cabinet. The minister’s chief of staff has tested positive for the corona virus, and Demir has been in contact with this in the past week. International travel is therefore excluded.
“How bad is this”, says Demir when we get her on the phone. “We have worked hard over the past three weeks and taken good measures for the climate. But just now my chief of staff called me. He said he had tested positive and we have of course worked together very intensively over the past few days, so international travel is out of the question according to the PLF form. Just to be sure, I have a moment with Marc Van Ranst (the virologist, ed.) I called, but it confirmed what I feared: the rules are stricter for flying and traveling, so I can’t go to Glasgow. You can’t risk it. Imagine that I am positive and contaminate the whole plane and everyone at that conference: I don’t want that on my conscience.”
Digital meetings
She will try to attend the meetings at the climate summit digitally. “Everything is now being set in motion for this,” it sounds to her cabinet. According to Demir, digital meetings are “different” than in person. “But we did get used to it during the corona crisis, so we’re going to do it like that.”
Demir has already undergone a first corona test and is awaiting the result. “If it’s negative – which I suspect because I’m not sick and I’m feeling well – I have to get tested again in five days because the incubation period counts naturally. Until then I have to be careful.” Going into quarantine is not necessary, but wearing the mouth mask, keeping your distance and avoiding crowded places is strongly recommended.
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