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Unlike 2008 crisis, pandemic has no leader, no global plan

Antonio Guterres
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When financial markets collapsed and the world faced its last great crisis in 2008, major powers worked together to restore the global economy.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has been striking for the opposite response: There's been no leader, no united action to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has killed over 200,000 people.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked leaders of the world's 20 richest countries in late March to adopt a “war-time” plan” and cooperate on the global response to suppress the virus.

There was no response and Guterres continues to warn of a “lack of leadership."