UN Secretary General Guterres in self-isolation after covid contact

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Tuesday that he had come in contact with a UN official who tested positive for Covid-19.  He is now in self-isolation for a few days, according to diplomatic sources.

The 72-year-old Portuguese canceled his participation in all upcoming events he was scheduled to attend.

In a note to the UN press corps on Tuesday, Farhan Haq, Guterres' deputy spokesperson, wrote, "He has shown no symptoms and has initially tested negative. Out of an abundance of caution, he has canceled all his engagements and he will work from home until he is tested on Thursday, December 9".

Today, Wednesday, he was scheduled to attend a Security Council meeting on the challenges of terrorism and climate change, which will be chaired by Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum. Mr. Bazum, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this December, arrived in New York earlier yesterday, where he will remain until the end of the week.

The Secretary-General's spokesman, Stefan Duzarik, declined to comment at this time. A few days ago, he announced that Mr. Guterres had recently received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Guterres was one of the first people from New York to get vaccinated. He received his initial dose in late January 2021 and a second shot later. On November 26, he received the COVID booster shot.

Source: CNA