The money is intended to ensure that treatments for the virus will be available in poor countries and affordable for individuals. Currently, no antiviral drugs or other immune system treatments have been approved to treat Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. The Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust medical charity are each contributing up to $50 million, and the Mastercard Impact Fund has committed up to $25 million for initial projects. The Gates Foundation’s funding is part of its $100 million commitment to the Covid-19 response announced last month. “Viruses like Covid-19 spread rapidly, but the development of vaccines and treatments to stop them moves slowly,” Mark Suzman, chief executive officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a statement.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 10, 2020 07:41 UTC