Without naming specific countries, Guterres called for an "all-out effort" to end this state of affairs.

He said migrants and refugees were especially affected, adding they had been "vilified as a source of the virus - and then denied access to medical treatment".

The UN chief also called on the media to remove "racist, misogynist and harmful content", and on educational institutions to focus on digital literacy at a time where fake news continues to spread online.