Under the presidency of the Dominican Republic, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is to hold a virtual meeting for the first time by next week. The council is planning to address the coronavirus pandemic that killed more than 42,000 people worldwide. The Dominican Republic assumed the rotating presidency of the council for the month of April, taking the baton from China.

 

 

♦ The meeting will discuss the pandemic caused due to coronavirus.

♦ As per Johns Hopkins University estimate, the confirmed coronavirus cases across the world now stand at over 932,600 and over 42,000 deaths. As per the report, the US has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world at 213,372, followed by Italy (110,574), Spain (104,118) and China (82,361). Over 4,600 people have died in the US so far because of the COVID19. 

♦ Earlier, Dominican Republic presented to members of the Security Council its program of work and informal plan of video teleconferencing (VTCs) for the month of April.

♦ During a virtual pre-council meeting, the members discussed the brought up the COVID-19 pandemic. The Security Council aims to find a solution to the pandemic as the primary responsibility of the UNSC deals with the geopolitical security and peace matters.