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A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 20 March 2020
UN chief: World at war with a virus, recession near certain

By EDITH M. LEDERER inequalities, reversing hard-won development chains."
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General gains and poverty reduction," he warned. Guterres said resources need to get into the
Antonio Guterres said Thursday the world "is at Guterres called for global action to tackle the hands of people, noting that some countries
war with a virus" and warned that "a global re- health emergency, the social impact of the are adopting cash transfers and universal in-
cession — perhaps of record dimensions — is a pandemic, and the economic response and come.
near certainty." recovery. "We need to take it to the next level to ensure
The U.N. chief said "people are suffering, sick "If we let the virus spread like wildfire – especially support reaches those entirely dependent on
and scared" and stressed that current respons- in the most vulnerable regions of the world -- it the informal economy and countries less able
es by individual countries will not address "the would kill millions of people," he said. to respond," he said.
global scale and complexity of the crisis." "And we need to immediately move away The secretary-general stressed that remittances
"This is a moment that demands coordinated, from a situation where each country is under- "are a lifeline in the developing world – espe-
decisive, and innovative policy action from taking its own health strategies to one that en- cially now."
the world's leading economies," Guterres told sures, in full transparency, a coordinated global He said countries have committed to reducing
reporters from U.N. headquarters in New York. response, including helping countries that are remittance fees to 3 percent, but the COVID-19
"We must recognize that the poorest countries less prepared to tackle the crisis," Guterres said. crisis requires that they get as close to zero as
and most vulnerable — especially women — The secretary-general said governments must possible.
will be the hardest hit." give strongest support to the global effort to G20 leaders have also waived interest pay-
The secretary-general welcomed next week's fight the virus led by the U.N. World Health Or- ments to protect their own citizens and econo-
emergency summit of leaders of the Group of ganization, including responding to its $675 mil- mies, he said.
20 major economic powers to respond to the lion appeal. "We must apply that same logic to the most vul-
COVID-19 pandemic. He said he will participate "Health spending must be scaled up right away nerable countries in our global village and al-
with the message that this is an unprecedent- to meet urgent needs and the surge in demand leviate their debt burden," Guterres said.
ed situation which requires creativity — "and — expanding testing, bolstering facilities, sup- The secretary-general was asked where the
the magnitude of the response must match its porting health care workers, and ensuring ad- money was going to come from to fund his am-
scale." equate supplies — with full respect for human bitious program, given that many G20 countries
"COVID-19 is killing people, as well as attack- rights and without stigma," Guterres said. are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks at home.
ing the real economy at its core – trade, supply Unlike the 2008 financial crisis, he said, banks "We see that whenever there is a problem in
chains, businesses, jobs," Guterres said. "Entire must be part of the solution and "the liquidity of the banking system, trillions appear to solve the
countries and cities are in lock down. Borders the financial system must be guaranteed, and problems of the banks," he said. "And these tril-
are closing. Companies are struggling to stay banks must use their resilience to support their lions must appear now."
in business and families are simply struggling to customers." "Governments, central banks must work to guar-
stay afloat." Guterres said the focus must be on the most vul- antee that there is liquidity in the economy but
The International Labor Organization just report- nerable people — low-wage workers, small and also that funds are mobilized to those that are
ed that workers around the world could lose as medium enterprises — and "that means wage most in need," both individuals and the poorest
much as $3.4 trillion in income by the end of this support, insurance, social protection, prevent- countries, the U.N. chief said.
year, he said. ing bankruptcies and job loss." Guterres stressed the need for solidarity saying
The secretary-general said world leaders have "That also means designing fiscal and monetary political, religious and community leaders must
the opportunity to steer the recovery from the responses to ensure that the burden does not convey a very strong message that the fight
coronavirus pandemic "toward a more sustain- fall on those who can least afford it," he said. against COVID-19 must be done together —
able and inclusive path." "And we must refrain from the temptation of re- and that "it's very important to fight fake news"
"But poorly coordinated policies risk locking in sorting to protectionism. This is the time to dis- and social media campaigns that try to spread
— or even worsening — already unsustainable mantle trade barriers and re-establish supply fear, antagonism and create divisions.q

Thailand says all int'l arrivals need virus-free certificate

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai- expected to sharply cut would be required only disease into Thailand, so major holiday and shutting
land's government is im- the number of visitors. Thai- for people arriving from that's why I tell you that down schools nationwide.
posing stricter rules on in- land has been reluctant to "disease infected zones" everyone who is about to Provincial governors have
ternational travel that re- endanger its large tourism — South Korea, China, Ma- enter Thailand should have been empowered to close
quire people arriving from industry, which accounts cao, Hong Kong, Italy and a health certificate," Prime venues where people gath-
all countries to have health for about 12% of its econ- Iran — or who had visited Minister Prayuth Chan- er, including massage par-
certificates stating they do omy, according to official "ongoing local transmission ocha said. "That is an ex- lors, entertainment places,
not have the coronavirus, figures. areas" — the United States, tension from four countries gyms and sports venues.
along with medical insur- The Civil Aviation Author- parts of Japan, Britain and two territories, but to- The popular tourist destina-
ance covering the disease. ity of Thailand on Thursday and eight other European day we need it from ev- tion of Phuket on Thursday
The measures fall short of night issued the new guide- countries. ery country as we attempt joined Bangkok and other
the total bans on interna- lines covering arrivals, say- The health certificates now to control the outbreak in provinces in applying such
tional flights many coun- ing they would come into required for all arrivals must the country and lower the restrictions.
tries have enacted, but are effect at midnight Saturday be issued within 72 hours of number of infected people Postponing the annual
night Thai time. departure, and the insur- as much as we can." public holiday of Songkran
The practicality of the ance must cover $100,000 Thailand on Thursday re- is meant to discourage
measures is unclear, since in medical costs. ported 60 new confirmed the gathering and move-
many countries will not test Thai citizens also need to cases of the virus, bringing ment of large numbers of
people for the coronavirus have health certificates its total to 272. It has regis- people. Millions of Thais
unless they already have but not insurance policies. tered one death and dis- normally travel from the big
symptoms and meet other In addition they will have to charged 42 recovered pa- cities where they work to
criteria. self-quarantine for 14 days. tients. their hometowns during the
The decision comes just two Quarantine rules for arriving On Tuesday the govern- three-day holiday to cel-
days after the government foreigners remain unclear. ment announced a raft of ebrate the traditional New
announced that medical "Today we are trying to measures to combat the vi- Year. It will be rescheduled
certificates and insurance block those who bring the rus, including postponing a later this year.q