Guterres: COVID-19 could set us back years, even decades

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that the coronavirus pandemic might set the world back "years and even decades" in terms of economic progress.

"We are experiencing the sharpest decline in per capita income since 1870," he said, adding that "between 70 and 100 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty."

He also warned that "some 265 million people could face acute food insecurity" by the end of the year.

Guterres called for an "inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism" to deal with the crisis.

He added that there was a need to look to new ways of working, learning and consuming to move towards improved societies.