PM Modi pitches for new crisis management protocol at G20 video conference on coronavirus

NEW DELHI: As the world grapples with the Covid-19 threat, PM Narendra Modi Thursday called for measures to strengthen and reform WHO to allow it to adapt to new challenges in a special G20 summit video conference. G20 countries committed to injecting over $5 trillion into the global economy to counter the social and economic impact of Covid-19, said the Indian government in a statement.

Even as the US and China continue to quarrel over the origin of the novel coronavirus, sources here said the conference was held in the most cooperative manner and that there was no reference to the origin of the crisis. “It was the best illustration of global cooperation. The focus was purely on efforts to deal with the challenge and there was no attempt to ascribe motives,” said a source.

While doubts have also been raised about WHO’s role, PM made the point that the UN agency responsible for international public health did not have the mandate to deal with pandemic of this sort, which is why empowering of WHO was necessary, be it in terms of its “capacity of early warning or development of effective vaccines, or capacity building”.

More on Covid-19

Coronavirus pandemic: Complete Coverage

2