United Nations has cancelled all in-person meetings at its New York headquarters after five people in Niger's UN mission were infected with the coronavirus, Reuters reported quoting diplomats.

In a letter to member states late on Monday, UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said the body's medical unit had recommended cancelling in-person meetings on Tuesday, pending contact tracing with those infected.

Niger is a member of the 15-member Security Council, which last met in person on Thursday. Diplomats said people who attended Thursday's meeting were being tested for Covid-19, and an in-person meeting on Syria planned for Tuesday was instead held virtually.