For information only - not an official document
UNIS/VIC/228
20 March 2020
VIENNA, 20 March (UN Information Service) - The following message was sent to all personnel at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) today after Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the measures that began on Monday 16 March to tackle COVID-19 were being extended until Monday 13 April 2020.
- All personnel based at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) or elsewhere in Austria are required to adhere to the Austrian Government's extended measures until Monday 13 April 2020. This will be reviewed as necessary.
- Stay home unless you are approved to come to the VIC to carry out critical tasks.
Second positive case at VIC
This is an important message from the VIC Medical Service regarding COVID-19:
There is a confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a staff member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the VIC.
On Friday 20 March, the authorities confirmed that the person had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The person works on the 16th floor of the A building and was last in the VIC on 13 March. He is recovering at home and is under quarantine.
Close contact tracing has been initiated by authorities, and individuals among VIC personnel are being contacted by authorities with instructions to self-quarantine for 14 days. Close contact is defined as 15 minutes or more face-to-face interaction at a distance of 2 metre or less or direct contact (like a handshake).
Personnel not contacted by the Austrian authorities are not considered to be at risk.
We are in contact with the Host Country and we will provide an update to this case if needed.
World Health Organization and VIC Medical Services advise to continue to adhere to the general respiratory illness prevention measures, notably washing hands and social distancing.
The first confirmed case, announced on 17 March, involved a cleaner who was already recovering when the case was reported.
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For further information, please contact:
Martin
Nesirky
Director, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-5676
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5676
Email: martin.nesirky[at]un.org
Follow @UN_Vienna on Twitter for updates
