NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The United Nation will close its doors to visitors Tuesday evening and begin preparing its staff, as well as the 193 member countries, to work remotely.
"Out of an abundance of caution and following the decision to reduce the number of staff present in the UN Secretariat, it has been decided to close the complex to the general public and to temporarily suspend all guided tours until further notice," a UN spokesperson said in a statement.
In an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the UN will bar visitors from the UN buildings beginning at 8 p.m., after New York State declared a state of emergency over the weekend.
There will still be staff working at UN Headquarters and managers will work to determine alternate arrangements, including telecommuting for about 40 percent of the staff in order to '"educe the foot print", a spokesperson tells 1010 WINS.
The United Nations will continue to monitor the situation closely and further measures may be taken as circumstances evolve and as of now, they have not been advised of any COVID-19 cases among UN staff in New York, the statement adds.
The 193 member countries were to meet with the President of the General Assembly Tuesday morning, where they should be advised to work "three days out of five at home, and two days at UN premises," especially for those who are more likely to be targeted by the coronavirus according to a report from Le Monde.
On Monday, New York headquarters said it had launched the "preparatory" phase of its emergency plan and had 15 members of the Security Council were testing methods that would allow them to meet, and possibly vote on resolutions and other declarations remotely.
The UN has also asked its employees returning from risk areas to quarantine "voluntarily".
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