Virus has economic effects that would bring 'a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past,' says Guterres.

Axar.az reports citing Turkish media that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called the COVID-19 virus the "most challenging crisis" humanity has faced since World War II.

The UN chief launched a new plan to counter the socio-economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and called for the world to "act together to lessen the blow to people".

He said the virus represents stress for everybody in the world and has economic effects that would bring "a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past."