The UN refugee chief said Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19, after leading the first two days of the agency’s main annual meeting in person.
Filippo Grandi, who kicked off UNHCR’s week-long Executive Committee meeting in Geneva Monday, told participants via video-link that he would need to continue following the event from home.
“I am engaging with UNHCR’s Executive Committee from home as I have to isolate after testing positive to #COVID19,” he said in a tweet.
“I only have mild symptoms and hope to recover soon,” he added.
Grandi had for the past two days addressed delegates from the podium in the UN Assembly Hall in Geneva.
UNHCR’s executive committee is for the first time being held as a hybrid event this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Only limited numbers of delegates are allowed to attend physically, and distancing restrictions and mask requirements are in place.
AFP
In this handout image released by the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres holds a virtual press conference on April 3, 2020, at UN headquarters in New York. - Guterres Friday renewed his call for a global ceasefire, urging all parties to conflict to lay down arms and allow war-torn nations to combat the coronavirus pandemic. "The worst is yet to come," Guterres said, referring to countries beset with fighting like Syria, Libya and Yemen. "The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theatres of conflict." (Photo by Mark GARTEN / Other / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UN / Mark GARTEN" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS 
