Geneva, Switzerland – Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) announced that he is in quarantine after becoming a direct contact of an individual who tested positive for Covid-19
Dr. Tedros wrote on his personal Twitter account that he has decided to self quarantine during the coming days and work from home, and reassured that he is well and asymptomatic.
I have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for #COVID19. I am well and without symptoms but will self-quarantine over the coming days, in line with @WHO protocols, and work from home.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 1, 2020
My @WHO colleagues and I will continue to engage with partners in solidarity to save lives and protect the vulnerable. Together!
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 1, 2020
He took this opportunity to reiterate the importance of the public to comply strictly with the health guidelines and stressed that this is the only way to “suppress the virus, and protect health systems”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was appointed as the 8th Director General of WHO in July 2017 and served as the former Health Minister of Ethiopia for 7 years. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016.
This news comes as the Covid-19 cases in Europe surges exponentially, with double the numbers in the past five weeks. A vast majority of the public are expressing their concerns over how the governments of the European nations are failing to contain the situation.
With the surging cases, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have announced nationwide lockdowns for at least the next month which will be almost as strict as the restrictions put in place during March and April. Portugal has imposed a partial lockdown and Spain and Italy are tightening restrictions, with lockdowns expected to be announced soon.
