The IMF says COVID-19 will push the global economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva says the world's poorest countries will suffer the most.

“We anticipate the worst economic fallout since the Great Depression,” Ms Georgieva said this week.

The IMF will release an updated world economic forecast in coming days, showing just how quickly the coronavirus outbreak says turned a potentially a solid year of growth into a deep downturn.

In January, the IMF was forecasting that 160 nations would enjoy positive income growth this year, but it now expects more than 170 nations will have negative per capita income growth this year.

Emerging markets and low-income nations are at the highest risk, she said.

“With weak health systems to begin with, many face the dreadful challenge of fighting the virus in densely populated cities and poverty-stricken slums, where social distancing is hardly an option,” Ms Georgieva said.