Virus can be pretext for oppression, warns U.N. chief

"Against the background of rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a pushback against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic," the secretary-general said in a video address released on Thursday (April 23).

"This is unacceptable," he said, without naming specific countries or individuals. "More than ever, governments must be transparent, responsive and accountable."

Guterres used the address to announce a U.N. report on human rights in the coronavirus response.