UN Security Council halts meetings amid coronavirus pandemic

As unprecedented outbreak of dely coronavirus continues to tighten its grip worldwide, United Nations Security Council’s Chinese presidency cancelled body’s two meetings on March 16 which were scheduled this week. diplomatic sources of an international ncy revealed that it was in wake of pandemic that body me  decision after earlier only cancelling  meeting planned for March 17. 

However, according to reports, before recent revelation, UN was still planning to discuss situation of Darfur in Sudan on March 18 and multilateralism on March 19. Because Chinese mission currently holds rotating presidency of UNSC, it was t possible to confirm cancellations on March 15. It was reportedly diplomats from or countries who have confirmed decision. 

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United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that a positive case of fatal virus, which was originated in China in December 2019, has been identified among staff members at UN Secretariat after a diplomat from Philippines was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, last week.

However, UN building still remains open and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was reportedly in his office on March 15. But Dujarric said that usual number of people who enter UN hequarters in New York City has shrunk from several thousand per day to only some 900 people. Chinese mission reportedly said that UNSC is still “still functioning” irrespective of recent cancellations of meetings in upcoming week.

mission also said in a statement that members of council are still maintaining “communication and consultation” on certain issues on nda with a view to take necessary actions in a bid to fulfil mandate of Council.

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Global Pandemic

World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus as a global pandemic after virus spre to more than 162 countries, resulting in deaths of more than 7,100 people worldwide. WHO chief Tedros ham furr even urged all nations to get very serious over issue and take all necessary measures to contain virus from spreing at this rate. Tedros said, that word 'Pandemic' cant be used lightly or carelessly due to its strong contation. 
 
However, Tedros also said that coronavirus outbreak is a "controllable pandemic". According to a statement released by World Health Organisation, Tedros outlined two main reasons as to why decision was taken to describe epidemic as a pandemic. Tedros said that one reason was speed and scale of transmission and ors was because 'countries are t approaching this threat with level of political commitment needed to control it'.

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(With ncy inputs)