Coronavirus pandemic-Greatest test since World War II, UN

UN Secretary António Guterres has threatened that the current coronavirus coronavirus is the biggest challenge for the world since World War II.

UN Secretary has said it could led to recession “that probably has no parallel in the recent past”.

He said this while speaking at the launch of a UN report on the potential socioeconomic impact of coronavirus outbreak.

Globally, there are 860,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, more than 42,000 people have died.

US has reported more than 4,000 deaths, higher than that of China from where the virus originated.

The data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that more than 189,000 people in America have been infected.

On the other hand, Spain has recorded 849 deaths in the last 24 hours-the highest number in a single day in Spain.

Apart from that, a total of 1,789 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19 in the UK.

António Guterres spoke at the UN headquarters in the New York City. He said, “The new coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core, claiming lives and people’s livelihoods.

“Covid-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations.”

The UN chief called for “an immediate co-ordinated health response to suppress transmission and end the pandemic”.

Mr Guterres urged the industrialised nations to help those less developed, or potentially “face the nightmare of the disease spreading like wildfire”.

The UN report estimates that up to 25 million jobs could be lost around the world as the result of the outbreak.

It also projects an up to 40% “downward pressure” on global foreign direct investment flows.