Fighting COVID will help economy recover faster, lower inflation -IMF's Georgieva

The COVID-19 pandemic remains the biggest risk to the global economy, and is contributing to rising inflation in many countries, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. Georgieva urged redoubled efforts to boost vaccinations and beef up defenses against the coronavirus, saying such moves -- coupled with interest rate increases now being eyed or executed by central banks -- would help ease supply chain disruptions and combat inflation. 'Pandemic policy is economic policy,' the IMF chief said. 'The biggest risk for the performance of the world economy remains this year COVID and the disruption it causes.'