The press service of the UN office in Geneva advised journalists who closely communicated with members of the Constitutional Committee of Syria, quarantined on Monday evening after identifying among them infected with the coronavirus, to contact doctors. This recommendation is contained in a message sent by the press service on Tuesday to media representatives covering the meeting of the Committee's editorial group.
Discussions in the drafting group with 45 delegates, which began on Monday morning at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, were suspended by the evening of the same day, as four participants in the meeting were found to have the coronavirus during medical testing. During the day on Monday, a number of journalists were on the territory of the UN in a designated area for the press near the entrance to the building. It is known that participants of the meeting contacted them to answer questions. It is also possible that some media representatives may have communicated with delegates in hotels.
In this regard, the UN press service reminded to pay attention to contacts with infected people, especially if the communication took place" face to face at a distance of one meter and for at least 15 minutes", as well as if there was "direct physical contact". "If you have had contact with members of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in similar situations or are concerned about your health, we invite you to contact the nurses of the UN Medical service," the message reads.
Hadi al-Bahra, the co-chair of the Committee from the opposition Syrian negotiating committee, told reporters earlier that all members of the editorial team were quarantined for two to ten days in their hotel rooms. The work of the group has been suspended, and the prospects for its resumption will probably become clearer in the afternoon on Wednesday, he said.
The editorial team resumed its work on 24 August at the UN headquarters in Geneva after a break of almost nine months caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It was planned that 45 delegates (15 each from the Syrian government, opposition and civil society) would discuss the country's "national foundations and principles" in Geneva.
The Syrian Constitutional Committee was formed in accordance with a resolution adopted in January 2018 in Sochi by the Congress of the Syrian national dialogue. It included 150 people (50 delegates each from Damascus, the opposition and civil society). The first meeting of the Committee was held in Geneva on 30 October last year. The drafting group held two sessions in November. The second session ended on 29 November without results, as it was not possible to agree on the agenda. After that, the Committee did not meet because of the pandemic.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS