"EPIDEMICS"

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the COVID-19 pandemic is a “clear test of international cooperation – a test we have essentially failed” as a result of a “lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity.” UNIFEED

In a video message to the United Nations General Assembly, the President of France Emmanuel Macron called for a creation of a “contemporary multilateralism” which will be “built on the basis of solid, respected and verified agreements between partners in good faith, around clear objectives and rules, with real responsibility and accountability mechanisms.” UNIFEED

Chinese President Xi Jinping said, facing the coronavirus, “we should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected.” UNIFEED

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said "from endless warnings about the world being under-prepared, all countries need to dig in together and invest to ensure a pandemic of this magnitude and severity never happens again. With the right political and financial commitment and investment now, we can prevent and mitigate future pandemics." WHO

General Assembly concludes current Session, opens seventy-fifth.

Security Council extends mandate of United Nations Mission in Libya for 12 months, adopting resolution 2542 (2020).

General Assembly hears calls for more multilateral cooperation, information sharing to defeat COVID-19, as speakers explain their votes on global health threats text.

On the opening day of the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provided an oral update on Human Rights impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. UNTV CH

WHO’s chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator “will not be able to deliver on its goals without a significant increase in funding,” adding that it still faces “a funding gap of 35 billion US dollars.” WHO

General Assembly President of the 74th Session Tijjani Muhammad-Bande holds an end-of-session press conference.