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US ‘not even close’ to doing enough to fight pandemic, Bill Gates says

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Daily US Times: Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that the current coronavirus picture, both in the US and globally, is “more bleak” than he would have expected. He said this in an interview to CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a Coronavirus townhall.

Mr Gates said the fact that people are still dying in the US today shows that the country is “not even close” to doing enough to fight the pandemic.

“It’s possible to ramp up testing for a new pathogen very, very fast,” he added.

“In fact a number of countries did that extremely well in this case and the technology keeps getting better there. The US in particular, hasn’t had the leadership messages or coordination that you would have expected.”

Bill Gates attributed the rise in numbers to a lack of contact tracing and testing, as well as a lack of mask wearing. He said other countries that had done those things effectively had seen success in containing the virus.

He also mentioned the behaviors in the US right now, saying, some people being very conservative in what they do, and some people ignoring the epidemic, is huge.

He added: “Some people almost feel like it’s a political thing which is unfortunate,” adding that something he didn’t expect in America.

“The governor of North Dakota, a friend of mine, had to say ‘please don’t be mean to people wearing a mask’ which kind of blows the mind.”

Mr Gates also dismissed the White House claimes that an increase in case numbers is a direct result of an increase in testing, calling it “completely false.”

In terms of a timeline, he said he’s aligned with the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on his prediction that there will be a viable vaccine by the end of the year, or early 2021.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged up to $100 million in February to help contain the coronavirus outbreak around the world. Mr Gates and his wife Melinda Gates said the funds would be used to help find a vaccine for the virus, limit its spread and improve the detection and treatment of patients.

Gates explained during the town hall that there are two characteristics being evaluated in developing a vaccine. Firstly, that the vaccine prevents you from getting sick and secondly, that it prevents you spreading it to others.

According to him, the biggest hurdle won’t be developing or distributing a vaccine; rather it will be ensuring people take it.

He said due to the urgent need for this vaccine, the time for scientists to trial it on pregnant women and different age groups will be reduced.

Gates ultimately said he thinks most people will take it.

He said if 70 to 80% of the people will take the vaccine, everyone will benefit from that.

You may read: US coronavirus cases ‘may have topped 20 million’

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