NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was exposed to the coronavirus yesterday by a UN official who already had Covid-19 and is isolating for the next few days, diplomatic sources said.
Guterres, 72, has cancelled his upcoming in-person engagements, sources said.
The UN chief was due to be the guest of honor of the UN Press Association at its annual gala in Manhattan today.
Tomorrow, he was to participate in a UN Security Council meeting on the challenges of terrorism and climate change, led by Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum.
Bazoum, whose country currently holds the council presidency, arrived in New York yesterday and is expected to stay until the end of the week, when he heads to Washington.
Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, declined to comment immediately on the UN chief’s condition.
Dujarric indicated a few days ago that Guterres had recently received his third dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, after having hesitated for a long time about the advisability of receiving booster shots while millions of people throughout the world have yet to receive their first jab. – AFP, December 8, 2021
