By Penka Arsova
The head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Sunday that he is self-quarantining after being in contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The story: The WHOâs Director-General said Sunday on Twitter that he has been identified as a contact of a person who contracted the virus and will self-isolate in accordance with coronavirus-related guidelines from the organization. Tedros said he did not have any symptoms and indicated that he still has not been tested. It is unclear if he plans to do so or who among his contacts had been infected.
The WHO recommends self-quarantining for 14 days after being in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus from âtheir last exposure.â
I have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for #COVID19. I am well and without symptoms but will self-quarantine over the coming days, in line with @WHO protocols, and work from home.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 1, 2020
In follow-up tweets, he stressed the importance of people following recommended guidelines to protect themselves and slow the spread of the virus.
It is critically important that we all comply with health guidance. This is how we will break chains of #COVID19 transmission, suppress the virus, and protect health systems.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 1, 2020
The WHO on Monday sought to clarify any confusion after some reports purportedly suggested Tedros tested positive for COVID-19. The body pointed out that he only came into contact with a person who tested positive and will go into self-quarantine out of precaution.
Contrary to some incorrect reports, @DrTedros hasn't tested positive for #COVID19. He has been identified as a contact of a person who tested positive.
Dr Tedros is feeling well and is in self-quarantine as a precautionary measure, in line with WHO protocols. https://t.co/dDjh9ZTDcN— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 2, 2020
In comparison, officials at WHO Europe in Copenhagen have opted to regularly wear masks during their weekly news conferences in an effort to encourage viewers to do the same.
On Sunday, Geneva announced that it will implement a partial lockdown in response to an outbreak of cases and hospitalizations due to the virus.
âOn November 1, 474 people are being treated by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), including 56 in intensive care beds (intensive and intermediate care). As a reminder, in mid-October, the HUG had 78 hospitalisations, including 13 in intensive care beds,â the city said in a statement. âThe figures show that the situation is severely worsening. Over the past few days, more than 1,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus on a daily basis (peaking at 1,338 positive cases on October 30).â