The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Tuesday that two staff members at its Geneva headquarters have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
"We do have two staff confirmed with symptoms of COVID-19," spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters at a virtual press conference. "They both have gone home. They have self-isolated."
"Colleagues in the office have been checked and we're waiting for further information on those. Everything so far seems OK with them," he said.
Last week, the Geneva-based organization decided to only hold virtual press conference on COVID-19 instead of in-person briefing, as the number of infected cases continue to rise in Switzerland.
The infections at the WHO headquarters are the latest in the spread of COVID-19 among Geneva-based international organizations, after the UN Office at Geneva and the World Trade Organization respectively confirmed their first cases.
Earlier on Monday, Swiss declared an "extraordinary situation" in the country, the highest level in terms of the Epidemics Act. All shops, markets, restaurants, bars, entertainment and leisure facilities in the country will be closed until April 19, with only medical institutions and food stores allowed to be open.
According to Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, as of 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, there have been 2269 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths in the country.
