INDIA'S foreign minister has been forced to pull out of attending the G7 meeting in London in person after two positive coronavirus cases were detected in the country’s travelling delegation.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will participate virtually in the event after coming into contact with the suspected cases, although he has not tested positive.

Although India is not a G7 member, it had been invited to attend the meeting of foreign ministers as a guest.

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There are strict coronavirus security measures in place at the Lancaster House summit, which is the first face-to-face meeting of G7 foreign ministers for more than two years.

The two Indian cases were picked up by advance testing and none of the party had attended the summit venue.

Jaishankar tweeted: “Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases.

“As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 meeting today as well.”

A senior UK diplomat said: “We deeply regret that foreign minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.”

During the visit to the UK the Indian delegation had other meetings but Public Health England has assessed that social distancing and mask-wearing meant there was no need for any further action.

Home Secretary Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister yesterday, but she has not been told to self-isolate.

It comes as Britain said it is rushing to dispatch a further 1000 ventilators to India to help its struggling healthcare system deal with a surge in coronavirus.

Boris Johnson promised “the UK will always be there for India” as he committed fresh assistance including advice from NHS staff and Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance.

READ MORE: UK to dispatch 1000 ventilators to India amid Covid-19 surge

The Prime Minister made the pledge ahead of a call with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi tomorrow, and arranged to replace a visit to New Delhi which was cancelled as cases spiralled.

The 1000 ventilators from the UK’s surplus supply are in addition to 200 sent last week, in shipments that have included nearly 500 oxygen concentrators.

Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, have spoken to their Indian counterparts to share the expertise they have gained during the UK’s battle with the disease.

On May 2 recorded more than 390,000 new infections and 3600 deaths over 24 hours, raising the overall death toll to more than 215,500.

In a statement, Johnson said: “The terrible images we have seen in India in recent weeks are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India.

“I am deeply moved by the surge of support the British people have provided to the people of India and am pleased the UK Government has been able to play our part in providing life-saving assistance.

“The UK will always be there for India in its time of need.”