Bill Gates funds at-home coronavirus test programme in bid to tackle COVID-19
The billionaire has been outspoken on his countries’ disastrous response to the crisis and claims he has been warning the world for years about the possibility of a pandemic. He has now announced he is funding the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network to detect cases of coronavirus in the Seattle area. Seattle is the home to the first outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States.
The country has been the worst affected country in the world with more than 84,000 deaths so far.
The Microsoft co-founder said: “In any fight, it is important to know your enemy.
“Unfortunately, in our battle against COVID-19, there is a lot that we still don’t know.
“More testing, of course, will help us answer them.
“But with test in short supply in many parts of the world, including the US, it is impossible to test everyone – at least for now.”
The program allows people to collect their own nasal samples using a self swab test and then it gets shipped to a lab.
The program has been forced to be on pause while it seeks federal government approval.
Mr Gates said: “The key advantage of this at-home testing approach is that people don’t need to go to a clinic, where they risk exposing themselves or others to infection.”
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The organisation’s website has said: “We have been in conversation with the FDA since March 1st and hope to have our EUA soon.
“We initiated the process to authorise our lab-developed test and self-swab kit on March 23rd and, in accordance with the EUA process and timeline, submitted data to secure federal authorisation on April 13th.
“We are actively working to address their questions.”
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Mr Gates has blasted President Trump’s decision to stop funding for the World Health Organisation, saying it is “as dangerous as it sounds”.
He tweeted: “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds.
“Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organisation can replace them.
“The world needs @WHO now more than ever.”
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