In December 2019, a novel coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the city of Wuhan, China. This subreddit seeks to monitor the spread of the disease COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the WHO. This subreddit is for high-quality posts and discussion. Please be civil and empathetic.
Over the years I’ve had a chance to study diseases like influenza, Ebola, and now COVID-19—including how epidemics start, how to prevent them, and how to respond to them. The Gates Foundation has committed up to $100 million to help with the COVID-19 response around the world, as well as $5 million to support our home state of Washington.
I’m joined remotely today by Dr. Trevor Mundel, who leads the Gates Foundation’s global health work, and Dr. Niranjan Bose, my chief scientific adviser.
Ask us anything about COVID-19 specifically or epidemics and pandemics more generally.
LINKS:
My thoughts on preparing for the next epidemic in 2015: https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/We-Are-Not-Ready-for-the-Next-Epidemic
My recent New England Journal of Medicine article on COVID-19, which I re-posted on my blog:
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/How-to-respond-to-COVID-19
An overview of what the Gates Foundation is doing to help: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/TheOptimist/coronavirus
Ask us anything…
Proof: https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1240319616980643840
Edit: Thanks for all of the thoughtful questions. I have to sign off, but keep an eye on my blog and the foundation’s website for updates on our work over the coming days and weeks, and keep washing those hands.