"The weaknesses and lack of preparedness exposed by this pandemic provide a window onto how a bioterrorist attack might unfold - and may increase its risks," Guterres said on Thursday. "Non-state groups could gain access to virulent strains that could pose similar devastation to societies around the globe."
Guterres said that some actors might take advantage of the current global crisis and promote further division resulting in the escalation of violence and potential "devastating miscalculations" in regions already ravaged by conflict.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic might further erode the people’s trust in public institutions, if citizens perceive governments to have mishandled the response or lacking transparency regarding the scope of the crisis, Guterres said.
The Secretary-General also called on the UN Security Council to demonstrate unity in mitigating the peace and security challenges posed by the pandemic.
According to the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, the number of people infected with the virus has exceeded 1.5 million with over 95,000 deaths.