On a visit to the World Health Organization Headquarters on 24 February 2020, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all countries to “do everything” to contain COVID-19.
Guterres said, “I think it’s important to say that all countries - and this is now a problem that is affecting many countries in the world – all countries must do everything to be prepared and all countries must do everything respecting naturally the principle of non-discrimination, without stigmatization, respecting human rights; doing everything that they can to contain the disease.”
Although it was still possible to contain the disease “if some fail, if some do not do everything that is needed, this can still become out of control with dramatic consequences for global health and the global economy”, he warned.
Speaking in Geneva at WHO headquarters, Guterres reiterated his “strong appeal” to countries “to assume their responsibilities and knowing that they can fully count on WHO to support them in that effort.”
