The UN Security Council will hold a closed video-teleconferencing session today to discuss the COVID-19 situation, the first time the world body’s top organ is holding a meeting on the raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 88,500 people globally and infected over 1.5 million others.

Council President for the month of April, the Dominican Republic has formally scheduled a closed video-teleconferencing (VTC) “in connection with the impact of COVID-19 on the issues that fall under the Security Council’s mandate.”

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will participate in the session.