3 infected with the US Mission in Geneva Coronavirus

A tent has been installed in front of a university hospital in Geneva to examine people with HIV infection

A US official confirmed to Reuters that three people working for the American diplomatic mission in Geneva were infected with the emerging coronavirus, but they were "in good shape."

Earlier Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that several State Department employees worldwide were infected with the emerging coronavirus, but he did not disclose details of their workplace or whether they had returned to the United States.

A spokesman for the American Mission in Geneva, contacted by Reuters, said: "We confirm that we currently have three confirmed cases of Covid 19 in the American Mission in Geneva."

"The confirmed cases are in good standing and subject to self-quarantine, as well as those who are in contact with them. We cannot offer more details to preserve privacy," he added, adding that the buildings where they were working had been sterilized to prevent further injuries.

It is believed that the American mission in Geneva includes more than 200 diplomats and local employees. Many are currently working from home.

The European headquarters of the United Nations is located in Geneva. Cases have been recorded among employees of several organizations in this Swiss city, including the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization, and in international schools in the vicinity of Geneva.

On Wednesday night, the United States announced that it had suspended routine visa issuance services in most countries of the world due to the outbreak of the new Corona epidemic.

The US State Department said in a statement that the US consulates canceled "all the usual dates" related to granting these visas "in most of the countries of the world."

The Foreign Ministry did not clarify the countries concerned with this procedure, calling for access to the websites of their embassies.

The ministry added that it will continue to study files related to "urgent travel necessities", as well as consular services for US citizens.

The United States imposed very severe restrictions in March on entering the country to avoid the outbreak of the new epidemic of Corona.

Source: Geneva - Reuters