WASHINGTON: Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said on Wednesday he tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.
“I’ve tested positive for COVID. I’m experiencing mild symptoms and am following the experts’ advice by isolating until I’m healthy again,” Gates said on Twitter.
I’ve tested positive for COVID. I’m experiencing mild symptoms and am following the experts’ advice by isolating until I’m healthy again.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 10, 2022
Gates’ global health charity organization the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had pledged in January $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to fund its COVID-19 pandemic response.
The foundation’s pledge comes on top of hundreds of millions committed to the global response to the coronavirus pandemic including support to vaccine makers, and diagnostics and treatments developers
Bill Gates has been a vocal proponent of pandemic mitigation measures, and access to vaccines and medication for poorer countries. The Gates Foundation in October said it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck’s antiviral Covid-19 pill for lower-income countries.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced on Tuesday.
“He (Stoltenberg) is fully vaccinated and boosted & has mild symptoms,” NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said on Twitter. “Following Belgian medical guidelines, he will continue to fulfill his duties working from home,” she added. NATO foreign ministers will hold an informal meeting in Berlin this weekend.
