UN Closes Lusaka Offices After Staff Test Positive For Covid-19

The United Nations in Zambia has announced the temporary closure of its offices in Lusaka after a number of its staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

The offices will remain closed for a period of 14 days from 3 August. 

In a statement the UN said the closure was necessary to implement various preventative measures including contact tracing. The organisation said it would continue to carry out operations as usual remotely. 

The UN has been operating at reduced capacity since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

“While the UN in Zambia introduced strict measures in its premises and facilities, including temperature checks, hygiene and sanitation stations, wearing of masks and physical distancing to prevent the contamination in the workplace, a cumulative total of four UN personnel and three UN dependents had tested positive for COVID-19 as of 1 August 2020,” the statement read.