(Reuters) - The United Nations warned of potentially "dire" long-term effects of the coronavirus outbreak on countries and the global economy and called for greater international cooperation to fight the pandemic. "COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations," said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as he launched a report this week to address responses to the crisis. The U.N. was founded 75 years ago, after World War Two. The U.N. report appealed to countries to follow the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines and for an immediate health response to curb the spread of the virus, including stepping up testing, quarantine and treatment. "We are still very far from where we need to be to effectively fight the COVID-19 worldwide and to be able to tackle the negative impacts," Guterres told reporters at a virtual news conference.

Source: International New York Times April 01, 2020 17:15 UTC