9/19/2021- 10:51 p.m.
The White House is concerned that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York, which kicked off last week, could be a COVID-19 superspreader event.
“We are concerned that the UN event is a superspreader event and that we must take all steps to ensure it does not become a superspreader event,” President Joe Bidens Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a news conference Friday. . .
World leaders began descending on New York City for the annual meeting last week, and Thomas-Greenfield notes that they are not necessarily adhering to local vaccine requirements and other coronavirus-related restrictions.
President Joe Biden will head north on Monday to make personal comments to his international colleagues. He is expected to appear with a smaller-than-usual White House entourage.
Last year’s UNGA meeting, held at the height of the pandemic, forced world leaders to go virtual. This year, however, the meeting will be held in a hybrid form, with heads of state appearing in person or by video message.
Thomas-Greenfield said she sent a note urging diplomats and world leaders to submit videos to be played during the two-week event.
More than 100 presidents, prime ministers and other leaders are expected to deliver in-person speeches.
New York City currently has some of the most restrictive COVID-19 rules, after Mayor Bill de Blasio mandated earlier this summer that people must be vaccinated — and show proof of vaccination — in order to enjoy indoor activities like dining, concerts, movies and convention centers.
UNGA is being held inside the UN General Assembly, which qualified as a convention center, according to a Sept. 9 letter from Blasio’s Office for International Affairs.
New York City’s health commissioner informed General Assembly president-elect Abdulla Shahid that UNGA would be covered by a local law requiring proof of vaccination for indoor locations.
Already indicative of clashes is Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who says he was not vaccinated but has antibodies from a COVID-19 infection last year. He announced that he will attend the UNGA in person while defying the vaccination requirement in New York City.
There are already concerns about world leaders and diplomats not following NYC’s vaccination protocols, forcing people to be vaccinated for indoor events – including at convention centers
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the demand “discriminatory” and said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the idea of requiring a vaccination certificate to enter the General Assembly Hall.
Nebenzia claimed the rule violates the 1947 agreement between the US and the UN that establishes the international status of the world body.
After reversing the demand, Shahid returned on Thursday in a new letter: “I would like to point out to delegations that the honor system regarding vaccinations… continues to exist.”
Secretary-General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday the honor system means: “By swiping a badge to enter the General Assembly Hall, delegates confirm that they have been fully vaccinated, that they have not tested positive for the disease in the past 10 days.” COVID-19. [and] have no symptoms.’
De Blasio announced that New York City will open a pop-up testing and vaccination site at UN headquarters where attendees can get free COVID-19 testing and the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
The 2021 UNGA meeting started last week and will conclude on Tuesday.
