- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
Coronavirus: Millionaire donation of Bill and Melinda Gates 0:30
Hong Kong (CNN Business) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is dramatically increasing the amount it is spending to fight the coronavirus, promising up to $ 100 million to help contain the outbreak.
The foundation said in a statement on Wednesday that its funds would be used to help find a vaccine against the virus, limit its spread and improve the detection and treatment of patients.
The new donation total includes $ 10 million that the foundation had previously promised.
The organization will immediately allocate $ 20 million to groups that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. UU. And the World Health Organization, which last week declared the outbreak of coronavirus as a global public health emergency.
- What we know so far about the coronavirus: figures, travel restrictions, quarantine, a possible vaccine and others
- Look: This is how countries receive those evacuated by the coronavirus
Funding will also be allocated to public health agencies in China and other countries affected by the outbreak.
The foundation also focuses on countries in South Asia and Africa, where people are said to be at greater risk of contamination due to lack of access to good medical care. Up to US $ 20 million will be allocated to the health authorities of these regions.
"The publication of fast and flexible funds is intended to help multilateral organizations and national public health authorities to rapidly expand their virus detection capabilities and implement disease modeling analyzes," the group said in a statement.
This is "so that they can allocate resources where they can have the greatest impact in stopping the spread of the disease," he added.
Bill and Melinda Gates are known for their work in public health and philanthropy. In 2009, they worked with authorities in China to combat an outbreak of tuberculosis in the country, contributing approximately US $ 33 million to relief efforts.
In 2010, the couple committed up to US $ 10,000 million for vaccine research in the next decade. That same year, they also started an initiative with Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway called "Giving Pledge," which encourages billionaires to give most of their wealth to charity.
Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and is the second richest person in the world, currently has an estimated net worth of US $ 117,000 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Gates' team is the last to advance as the coronavirus outbreak worsens and infects some 28,000 people in more than 25 countries and territories. To date, at least 560 people have died, mainly in mainland China.
Other prominent business leaders have promised millions of dollars in aid to help fight the virus. Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma donated 100 million yuan (US $ 14.4 million) for vaccine research and virus treatment measures, his foundation said last week.
Xiaomi's chief executive, Lei Jun, has also contributed 12.7 million yuan (US $ 1.8 million) to relief efforts in his home province of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, according to a company spokesman.
Bill Gates Melinda Gates