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Guterres asks the G-20 for a coordinated and supportive war plan against the coronavirus

26 March 2020|Briefing note

All countries must be able to combine systematic testing, tracing, quarantining and treatment with restrictions on movement and contact – aiming to suppress transmission of the virus. And they have to coordinate the exit strategy to keep it suppressed until a vaccine becomes available.

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El Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, António Guterres, participa en una Cumbre virtual de Líderes de las naciones del Grupo de los Veinte (G-20).
El Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, António Guterres, participa en una Cumbre virtual de Líderes de las naciones del Grupo de los Veinte (G-20).
ONU/Evan Schneider

We are at war with a virus – and not winning it. 

It took the world three months to reach 100,000 confirmed cases of infection.  

The next 100,000 happened in just 12 days.  

The third took four days. 

The fourth, just one and a half. 

This is exponential growth and only the tip of the iceberg.  

This war needs a war-time plan to fight it. 

Solidarity is essential. Among the G-20 – and with the developing world, including countries in conflict.  

That is why I appealed for a global ceasefire. 

We need to concentrate on people, keeping households afloat and businesses solvent, able to protect jobs.

Allow me to highlight three critical areas for concerted G-20 action. 

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