This has so far led to millions losing their jobs and businesses losing profits, with poorer countries feeling the impact.

“Millions of livelihoods have been destroyed and healthcare systems are under strain worldwide,” he said.

“Our estimate is that up to 60 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty – that erases all the progress made in poverty alleviation in the past three years,” Mr Malpass warned on Tuesday.

The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than $1.90 (£1.55) per person per day.

The Washington-based usurer is giving $160bn in grants and low-interest loans to help poor countries overcome the crisis. Mr Malpass said that 100 countries, home to 70% of the world’s population, had already been given emergency finance.

“While the World Bank is providing sizeable resources, it won’t be enough,” he added.Mr Malpass said he was also frustrated with commercial lenders dragging their heels on offering debt relief to poor nations. “I have been somewhat frustrated by the slow pace. Commercial creditors are still, by and large, taking payments from even the poorest countries and there needs to be faster movement.”

“It is my fervent hope that we use this crisis as a catalyst to rebuild an economy that creates and sustains opportunity for dramatically more people, especially those who have been left behind for too long,” he wrote ahead of the bank’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.

Source___BBC News