UN Secretary‑General Says No to Mandatory Covid‑Proof for Leaders
On a chilly Wednesday, September 15, UN Chief Antonio Guterres made it crystal clear that he can’t pull the plug on leaders who haven’t gotten their Covid jab. This comes after New York City officials insisted that anyone stepping into the General Assembly Hall should show vaccination evidence.
Who’s Meeting In New York?
Next week’s UN gig is a whirlwind of heads of state, foreign ministers, and a fleet of diplomats. Some nations, still wary of the virus, will skip the trip and send video messages instead.
NYC’s Stubborn Stance
The city asked that anyone entering the UN building for the General Assembly must prove they’re vaccinated. “People entering the Hall would have to show proof of vaccination to gain entry,” officials said.
Guterres’ Easy‑Going Reply
Guterres chuckled when asked by Reuters, “We can’t tell a head of state that if he’s not vaccinated, he can’t come in.” He reminded everyone that the UN is a sanctuary of international territory, not bound by U.S. laws, though it does tip its hat to local guidance when the pandemic hits hard.
Vaccinating the Mall of Nations
He bragged that he’s been chatting with the mayor’s office about setting up a “vac‑check” hub right outside the UN. “We’ll have a vaccine capacity there, so folks who come can get jabbed,” he added.
The Unequal Reality
Guterres sighed over how stark the vaccination disparity is globally, especially in Africa, where less than 2% of the world’s 5.7 billion doses have landed. “The inequality is dramatic,” he said, noting that “most delegations traveling to New York will be vaccinated” yet still warning that unchecked spread could breed nastier variants.
Out‑of‑The‑Box Plans
He’s pushing for a 70% global coverage plan by the middle of next year. The city is offering a Johnson & Johnson single‑dose jab and testing right next to the UN. Mayor Bill de Blasio applauded UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid for backing the proof‑policy and promises quick rollout.
Ozzie Says No
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, fired back, calling the policy “discriminatory.” He urged an emergency General Assembly meeting to hash this out, though no date’s on the calendar yet.
Delta’s Relentless Presence
The city warned that the Delta wave is still a danger, with cases spiking over the last two months. U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas‑Greenfield, last month, urged leaders to send video sign‑offs to dodge a super‑spreader clash. Remember, last year’s assembly shut down entirely – everyone sent messages from home.
