UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

Guterres: world facing unprecedented test

31/03/2020

NEW YORK-- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday the world was facing an unprecedented test with coronavirus striking hundreds of thousands of people worldwide amidst a state of economic uncertainty.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its 2020-21 global economic growth, Guterres told an online news conference, so "we should all act in a decisive and innovative manner to curb the spread of the virus, and address social and economic destruction it caused in all regions." This comprehensive response, he said, should be in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

countries should show solidarity with communities and vulnerable nations, he said.

Guterres called for enhancing testing, follow up, quarantine and treatment as well as maintaining safety of first responders.

It is important that developed countries helped the least developed to enhance their health systems and abilities to respond to prevent transmission of disease, he said, or "we will face the nightmare of the disease that spreads like bush fires with millions of deaths." Guterres called for allocating 10 percent of the world's GDP to help the most vulnerable around the globe, coupled with easing of debts in order to alleviate the social and economic shock.