Covid-19 can push 60 million into poverty, adopt comprehensive policies: WB

The World Bank on Tuesday urged countries to go for comprehensive policies to boost long-term growth along with short term measures to address health emergencies and secure core public services in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, amid indications that 60 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020.

The scope and speed with which the Covid-19 pandemic and economic shutdowns have devastated the poor around the world are unprecedented in modern times, World Bank Group President David Malpass said.

"Current estimates show that 60 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. These estimates are