Addressing the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Guterres characterized the pandemic as "not only a wake-up call" but "a dress rehearsal" for challenges to come.
According to UN chief, the pandemic has exposed fragilities and inequalities across the globe and has generated "an epochal health crisis", the biggest economic and job losses since the Great Depression, and dangerous new threats to human rights, among other challenges.
He also underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable to address Covid-19 have received far too little assistance, urging, in that regard, the UN's 193 Member States to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease.
"In an interconnected world, it is high time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses," Guterres said, delivering his annual report on the work of the Organization.
Due to Covid-19, most world leaders will not attend the annual gathering at UN Headquarters, known as the General Debate. Instead, many have pre-recorded their speeches on video.