Thread by @Charles_Lister

All 45 participants - 15 from regime, 15 independents, 15 opposition - were tested before flying to #Geneva.

Quite how 3/45 slipped through the cracks is extraordinary.

If they [presumably] came from #Damascus, it speaks volumes about the crisis there.

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1297883262656942080

Two sources confirm to me all 3 positive cases came from #Damascus.

What's troubling is that all 45 participants had been tested for #COVID *before* traveling to #Geneva & tested again on arrival in #Switzerland.

Somehow 3 positive cases slipped through that @UN-run process.

@UN NEW - Official statement from UN S/E Pedersen's office confirms #Syria's Constitutional Committee sessions in #Geneva are "on hold" after 3/45 participants tested positive for #COVID19.

@UN NEW - I can confirm that the 3 constitutional committee members infected with #COVID19 *all* came from #Damascus on the same flight to #Geneva.

There's one each from the regime, civil society & opposition delegations.

@UN NEW - A 4th #COVID19 positive case has just been confirmed in #Geneva amongst the 45 constitutional committee 'small group.'

So there are 4 infections total:

- 2 regime
- 1 civil society
- 1 opposition

All came from #Damascus, on the same flight.

@UN NEW - My brief analysis on today's events in #Geneva, as:

- "Constitutional Committee talks highlight #Syria’s spiraling #COVID crisis"

mei.edu/blog/monday-br…

@UN NEW - In a just-released statement, @hadialbahra, the Constitutional Committee co-chair has confirmed the 4 #COVID19 infections in #Geneva -- adding that all 45 participants have been ordered to quarantine in their hotel rooms for 2-10 days, per local health authorities.

@UN NEW - #Syria's Constitutional Committee small group meeting in #Geneva will resume today in 2hrs, following additional testing beyond participants' initial 2 tests en route.

The delay followed 4 positive infections amid the 45 participants -- all from #Damascus.