UNITED NATIONS – A diplomat from the Philippines has examined optimistic for the spreading corona virus illness, the primary case reported amongst diplomats and employees on the United Nations headquarters in New York, a UN spokesman stated Friday.
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the Philippine mission to the UN had knowledgeable the UN Medical Companies of the check consequence earlier within the day.
In Manila, Philippines Overseas Ministry spokesman Ed Menez confirmed {that a} feminine diplomat, who was beforehand simply prescribed Tamiflu and despatched residence, was identified with the brand new coronavirus.
“We presume she was confined at a hospital once the diagnosis came in,” he stated.
“All personnel she had direct contact with are on self-quarantine to observe any symptoms,” Menez stated.
Dujarric, the UN spokesman, stated the final time the Filipino diplomat was on the UN headquarters advanced in New York was on March 9 for about 30 minutes at noon to satisfy two delegates from one other mission. He stated their assembly room has gone by means of three cleansing cycles since then.
Dujarric stated the diplomat didn’t have contact with UN employees and the medical service is reaching out to the 2 delegates the Filipino met. The diplomat works on the UN Normal Meeting’s Sixth Committee, which offers with authorized issues.
About 3,000 persons are employed on the towering riverfront UN headquarters. Quite a few different diplomats from the 193 UN member nations come and go between their very own missions within the space and the Manhattan UN advanced.
In Geneva, the World Well being Group (WHO) urged nations world wide mustn’t let up on efforts to battle its unfold.
WHO Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was talking throughout his common replace on the brand new coronavirus illness, someday after the brand new designation was introduced.
“Let me be clear: describing this as a pandemic does not mean that countries should give up. On the contrary, we have to double-down”, he stated.
“This is a controllable pandemic. Countries that decide to give up on fundamental public health measures may end up with a larger problem, and a heavier burden on the health system that requires more severe measures to control”.
Tedros stated WHO has been ‘working day and night’ to assist nations of their response.
The company is also working with the World Financial Discussion board and the Worldwide Chambers of Commerce to interact the personal sector, and in addition with the worldwide soccer affiliation, FIFA.
Moreover, greater than $440 million has been pledged to WHO’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
“This is a new virus and a new situation. “We are all learning and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives, and minimize impact. All countries have lessons to share”, he stated.
In the meantime, Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, advised journalists that the Secretary Normal Antonio Guterres has taken the choice to cancel all United Nations system sponsored aspect occasions at Headquarters, from 16 March till the top of April, efficient instantly.
Dujarric stated the UN chief was calling on all Member States to contemplate canceling all aspect occasions for conferences that they’re sponsoring.
In a letter to Member States, Guterres stated there was a three-phase response activation system to handle and coordinate well being emergencies in place, with UN Headquarters in New York at the moment in section two, which is an lively threat discount mode.
This consists of taking measures for social distancing within the office and assessing the criticality of journey and conferences towards related dangers.
“As you know, the UN building has been closed to visitors and the Secretariat has instituted arrangements for staff to telecommute to reduce the population density in the building”, stated Mr. Dujarric, thereby lowering the danger of transmission.
The Spokesperson famous that because the starting of the outbreak, the Secretary-Normal had been balancing the security and safety of employees and representatives of Member States with the necessity to make sure that the work of the Group continues, right here and world wide.
It’s also a brand new potential supply of volatility in Latin America and the Caribbean as a result of area’s vital hyperlinks with China by means of commerce, overseas direct funding and loans, in line with a senior official with the UN Growth Programme (UNDP).
