UN Secretary-General says it's foolish to believe a vaccine can undo the damage from the global pandemic.

The social and economic impact of COVID-19 is immense and growing, he noted.

Speaking to world leaders at the first virtual special session of the General Assembly on the COVID-19 issue, Guterres accused some countries of ignoring or rejecting the recommendations of the World Health Organization, causing countries to go in their own direction, while the virus spreads everywhere.

According to him, almost a year after the start of the pandemic, we are faced with human tragedy and public health, humanitarian, and development emergency. He noted growing poverty, looming hunger, and the prospect of the biggest global recession in eight decades.