Trump to hold video teleconference with G7 leaders to discuss coronavirus impact this week

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold a video teleconference with G7 leaders on Thursday to coordinate national responses to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House announced on Tuesday.

Trump, who is the head of the G7 this year, had to cancel the group’s annual summit, which was scheduled to take place at the presidential retreat of Camp David, Maryland, in June.

The Group of Seven nations involve the United States, France, Britain, Italy, Canada, Japan, and Germany. All seven of them have been badly hit by the virus.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was himself at a London hospital this week after treatment for the virus, which left him in the intensive care unit for several days due to symptom complications.

“Working together, the G7 is taking a whole-of-society approach to tackle the crisis across multiple areas, including health, finance, humanitarian assistance, and science and technology,” White House spokesman Judd Deere stated.

The Thursday meeting will be a follow-up to a previous March 16 video conference, the first time G7 leaders had met in that format, to discuss efforts to defeat the coronavirus.

In addition to the meeting this week, another session is expected take place in May to lay the groundwork for the anticipated June video conference.