UN GATE, Feb 29 – The United Nations has assiduously avoided answering Press questions about its response to Coronavirus.
Publicly UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his officials have lavished praise on China for its response, without answering on the disappearance of a journalist who exposed them on it.
Now that the tech giants the UN has turned itself over to, as it has to China, have canceled the Mobile World Congress 2020 even though it was to be in Barcelona, the question is more Pressing: what precautions has the UN taken given the travel to and from it, on unaccountable diplomatic passports, of diplomats and others from the epicenter of the virus? Inner City Press has asked each day for weeks - no answer at all, and Guterres banned Inner City Press even from his propaganda speech at The New School, here.
Now Inner City Press publishes this email from in Guterres' UN system, from UNESCO to be exact, again downplaying the risks to staff and those the UN deals with: "UNESCO Alert Date : 29/02/2020 13:38 IMPORTANT MESSAGE - CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK/EPIDEMIE DE CORONAVIRUS Dear colleagues, We have been informed late yesterday evening, 28th February, that a contractor who visited UNESCO Headquarters on Monday, 24th February, has tested positive for Covid-19. At the time of the visit, the contractor displayed no symptoms, and therefore we are advised by the competent French medical authorities that there is very low risk to staff. Nevertheless, on the instructions of the French medical authorities, as a precautionary measure, we have contacted the small number of staff who had contact with the contractor on Monday, to inform them that they must self-quarantine for 14 days. None of the staff members concerned currently display any symptoms but of course their medical situation will need to be monitored closely in the coming days." And Guterres and his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all questions. They are complicit, criminal.
Banned Inner City Press has also obtained the below UN spin of Coronavirus including praise of China's "vigorous" approach which has included Guterres-like censorship and welding people in their homes to die: "From: Ole Emmrich
Cc: Martha Helena Lopez ; Michael Rosetz Esther Tan Subject: Message from the CEB HR Network l Important Message for All UN Personnel on the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
Cc: Martha Helena Lopez ; Michael Rosetz Esther Tan Subject: Message from the CEB HR Network l Important Message for All UN Personnel on the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
Dear HR Network Colleagues, A cluster of cases of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was recently detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Additional cases have since been identified in China’s cities outside of Wuhan as well as other countries outside of China.
The UN’s Department of Health Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) is closely monitoring this evolving situation and have determined that the risk to UN operations is low at this time. This risk rating is based on current spread vs locations of UN personnel, and the vigorous containment efforts currently being applied by Chinese authorities. Nevertheless, this is an evolving and dynamic situation which will be vigorously monitored. In the meantime, DHMOSH has prepared the following message and resources for all UN personnel. Please feel free to broadcast the below to your staff as needed.
Dr. Esther Tan Senior Medical Officer Division of Healthcare Management And Occupational Safety and Health/ Office of Support Operations
Message for all UN personnel on the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: The UN’s Department of Health Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) is closely monitoring the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China on 31 December. Additional cases have since been identified in China’s cities outside of Wuhan as well as other countries outside of China.
The Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) recommends the following key preventive measures for all UN personnel against 2019-nCoV. 1. Take steps to prevent illness with respiratory pathogens: · Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections such as with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. · Perform frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment. · Individuals with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette including: o Maintain your distance from others; o Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing; o Use the nearest waste receptacle to dispose of the tissue after use; o Perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials; · Avoid close contact and unprotected with live or dead farm or wild animals; · When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals; · The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices; · Preliminary information suggests that older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease from this virus. 2. Pay attention to your health during your travel to outbreak locations and after you leave. · Seek medical care immediately if you begin to develop fever or respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough. Remember to share your previous travel history with your health care provider. · You should make every effort to inform the medical clinic by telephone about your condition prior to presenting in person there. 3. Keep up to date with local health advice before and during your travel For all travelers, while WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on countries with nCoV, please be aware that local authorities may begin to implement travel restrictions and health screening measures for travelers entering or exiting the country. All UN personnel should check with the destination countries’ embassy, consulate or Ministry of Health and keep up to date with local health advice before and during your travel. You should also comply with any screening measures put in place by local authorities. Similar messages have been posted on the DSS TRIP system for individuals seeking travel clearance into China."
The Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) recommends the following key preventive measures for all UN personnel against 2019-nCoV. 1. Take steps to prevent illness with respiratory pathogens: · Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections such as with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. · Perform frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment. · Individuals with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette including: o Maintain your distance from others; o Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing; o Use the nearest waste receptacle to dispose of the tissue after use; o Perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials; · Avoid close contact and unprotected with live or dead farm or wild animals; · When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals; · The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices; · Preliminary information suggests that older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease from this virus. 2. Pay attention to your health during your travel to outbreak locations and after you leave. · Seek medical care immediately if you begin to develop fever or respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough. Remember to share your previous travel history with your health care provider. · You should make every effort to inform the medical clinic by telephone about your condition prior to presenting in person there. 3. Keep up to date with local health advice before and during your travel For all travelers, while WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on countries with nCoV, please be aware that local authorities may begin to implement travel restrictions and health screening measures for travelers entering or exiting the country. All UN personnel should check with the destination countries’ embassy, consulate or Ministry of Health and keep up to date with local health advice before and during your travel. You should also comply with any screening measures put in place by local authorities. Similar messages have been posted on the DSS TRIP system for individuals seeking travel clearance into China."
Previously the UN refused to answer then in-house Inner City Press about its response to New York City's Legionnaires disease. The UN did not even take the precautions taken by apartment buildings in The Bronx. But in that case, the UN even with its standing water in its traffic circle foundation was no more risky that any other NYC building.
Not so with Coronavirus, given the travel in and out of the UN, precisely the risk that led largely liberal tech titans to cancel MWC2020. There is also the question of the tourists coming on busses and charged $20 to enter, which investigative Inner City Press is banned from an any price. The UN is silent and unaccountable. Perhaps this time they will be held to account - the question has begun to be asked, starting here.
Here prior to that are questions that Inner City Press, roughed up by the UN Security Antonio Guterres and and banned for 593 days says, has put in writing to Guterres, his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric, Farhan Haq and now Eri Kaneko, and global communications chief Melissa Fleming, without any answer at all despite formal and on camera promises to answer:
January 29-1: On Coronavirus, are UN interns and contractors in Wuhan and elsewhere in China covered by any UN health insurance?
February 11-2: On China, what are SG Guterres comments and action if any on the video of Chinese authorities welding people into their homes to die of coronavirus?
February 11-10: On press freedom and China what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres and separately USG Melissa Fleming on the disappearance of journalist Chen Qiushi, a freelance video journalist, traveled to the city of Wuhan in Hubei province from Beijing on January 24 and began filming and reporting on the health crisis in the city? On February 6, he told his family that he planned to report on a temporary hospital, and has not been seen since..
February 14-4: On coronavirus and UN Peacekeeping what are the comments and actions if any of SG Guterres and USG Lacroix, including any impact on deployment of peacekeepers from China and elsewhere, on that coronavirus is spreading among members of the Chinese military and armed police, with thousands placed under quarantine to prevent further contagion, according to the Hong Kong-based ICHRD? Ten soldiers within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and 15 armed police officers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Hubei Province, according to the ICHRD, which added that 1,500 soldiers and 1,000 armed police are under quarantine.
No answers at all. The UN of Antonio Guterres is irresponsible, and now dangerous. It should be held to account. Watch this site.
