UN chief says COVID-19 outbreak is the worst crisis since WWII

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned the coronavirus pandemic is the most serious crisis facing the world since World War II.
Guterres made the comments at the launch of a report on the socioeconomic impacts of the outbreak. He added that the pandemic is threatening people in every country and carrying the risk of “enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict”.
He also said it could bring a recession “that probably has no parallel in the recent past”. The report estimates that up to 25 million jobs could be lost around the world, and projects an up to 40% “downward pressure” on global foreign direct investment flows.
The number of confirmed cases around the world is now nearing 860,000, with more than 42,000 deaths. Italy remains the worst affected country in the world with 105,792 cases and 12,428 deaths.
Guterres warned that the outbreak could return from poorer countries, especially in Africa, to hit wealthy countries again, and that millions could die.
“A stronger and more effective response is only possible in solidarity if everybody comes together and if we forget political games and understand that it is humankind that is at stake”, Guterres said, and added:
“We are slowly moving in the right direction, but we need to speed up, and we need to do much more if we want to defeat the virus.”