A view of the Secretariat Building, with Members States’ flags flying in the foreground, at United Nations headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Information for Personnel at UN Headquarters in New York

 

This page features important information that is specific to UN Headquarters and to locations near HQ, where UN staff and their families live. While focusing on staff and their families, it also provides advice for staff of delegations and will be regularly updated as changes occur at HQ and in the region.

Coronavirus on the UN Intranet-iSeek (login required)

For Secretariat Staff in New York, the page Our Workplace: Next Steps @UNHQ on iSeek gathers all the information relevant to returning to the office. The COVID-19 response page on iSeek remains the central repository of stories, broadcasts and announcements sent by Management and Medical Services. It is also the portal to pages created by UN entities in Bangkok, Geneva, Nairobi, and Vienna, and for field missions with specific local information.

Report COVID-19 Illness via the EarthMed Portal - medical.un.org

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As part of a clinical care programme, HQ Medical Clinic can assist with COVID-19 testing. Contact us via the EarthMed Portal for UN staff, or via [email protected] for staff of Permanent Missions.

See the Testing page for details

If you have breathing difficulties, call 911

Useful contacts

United Nations

  • COVID-19 Helpline (1) 212-963-9999 24 hrs
  • HQ New York Medical Clinic (1) 212-963-7090 9 am-5 pm, M-F
  • Questions or Request for Testing [email protected]
  • UNHQ Emergency Information emergency.un.org

New York City

  • NYC Helpline 311
  • NYC COVID-19 Updates Text covid to 692692
  • NYC COVID-19 Updates in Spanish  Text COVIDESP to 692-692
  • nyc.gov/Coronavirus

Latest updates at Headquarters and from New York City

Limited COVID-19 testing now available to UN and Permanent Mission staff.

Testing for staff: The UN is offering COVID-19 testing service for staff members of the United Nations system and staff employed by Permanent and Observer Missions to the United Nations in New York, who are unwell and meet the clinical criteria for testing. Email [email protected] with the details found inside the ‘COVID_19 testing in New York’ page. Subject to capacity, our testing teams will come to you – the service is NOT available in the Headquarters building – stay home, stay safe.

Masks for well people: New York City is requesting everyone wear a face mask when outside the home. This should not be a surgical or medical mask – these should be reserved for healthcare workers.  Make a mask – there are plenty of good ideas how on the internet.  The mask is to protect others from you – it does not protect you from others to any significant degree. The most important and effective measures remain distancing (2m / 6 feet) and regular handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water.

How to report to UN medical if you are COVID-19 positive: For staff, simply send an email to [email protected] – one of our medical team will reach out – this is completely medical-in-confidence.

Self-reporting coming soon:  A portal connected directly to your UN medical record is coming soon and will allow you to report COVID-19 illness and testing status in you or your dependents.

Feel good!: The UN donated a quarter of a million surgical masks to healthcare workers in New York – the same workers who will put themselves at risk for you and your family if you become unwell.  Go make some noise at 7pm each night to show your support!

NYC advice on managing an illness: If you have manageable symptoms stay home - don’t go to a physician’s office or a health care facility unless you have shortness of breath or other escalation, and always consult with your doctor first by telephone, or use telehealth services.

Extent of spread in NYC: All New Yorkers should consider themselves potentially exposed to coronavirus. Stay at home and self-monitor. Self-monitoring means you check yourself for fever (>100 F or  >38 C) and remain alert for cough, shortness of breath or sore throat. It is really important that people who have these symptoms stay home.

Cleaning: The disinfection required for COVID-19 is just routine cleaning.  Normal disinfection kills this virus – regular normal household cleaning focusing on surfaces will be most effective.

Help available: Call 311 (NYC Health and Hospitals) if you don’t have a doctor – they will help you find one, or see the ‘I’m Sick’ page for detailed advice.

 

WHO advice for the public