Bill Gates Disbursed Rp136 Billion In Funds To Deal With The Corona Virus

JAKARTA - The corona virus outbreak that originated in the city of Wuhan, China has caught the attention of many people in the world. This is also what makes Forbes' richest person in the world, Bill Gates, stepped in.

The Microsoft founder is reported to have disbursed funds to help overcome the corona virus outbreak. Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates contributed US $ 10 million or the equivalent of Rp136 billion.

The funds are intended for accommodation in the care of patients infected with the corona virus in Wuhan. Meanwhile, the other half will be distributed to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for crisis control and preparedness in Africa.

"The money will be used to support and help the people of Wuhan and Africa to contain the spread of the 2019-nCoV (corona virus) global virus," said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Not only Microsoft's boss, Alibaba founder Jack Ma also donated 100 million yuan or around Rp.201.6 billion through his foundation for the development of a coronavirus vaccine. On behalf of humanity, Alibaba will also raise around 1 billion yuan to help hospitals and supply badly needed medical equipment in Wuhan.

The order for handling the corona virus in the City of Wuhan and Hubei was also followed by the technology giants in China. Baidu, Tencent and Huawei have contributed to the fight against the corona virus. Huawei even participated in the construction of the Houshenshan Emergency Hospital under construction in Wuhan City.

Apple CEO Tim Cook via Twitter announced that this iPhone manufacturer will also contribute, both donations of funds and efforts in the field.

"As many people around the world celebrate Chinese New Year, we send our love and support to the many people affected by the Coronavirus," Cook wrote.

As people in China and around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, we send our love and support to the many impacted by the Coronavirus. Apple will be donating to groups on the ground helping support all of those affected.

- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 25, 2020

Bill Gates predictions

Long before the corona virus broke out, Bill Gates had apparently predicted an appearance that would pose a human threat. Even though he did not mention the name of the virus in question, Gates never mentioned that this outbreak would be the third threat to the world, after climate change and nuclear war.

"The world must prepare itself from threats. Not only climate change and nuclear weapons, but the spread of a deadly virus outbreak is just as we prepare for war," said Bill Gates in a conference as quoted by The Sun, Thursday, January 30.

This was expressed by Bill Gates in a conference organized by the Massachusetts Medical Society. In his presentation, Gates revealed how a viral disease outbreak can spread quickly.

Gates also said that the virus is similar to the Spanish flu outbreak in 1981, which killed more than 50 million people. To that end, Gates asked that every country be prepared to face this threat by providing a vaccine.

"New types of vaccines can prevent epidemics, especially in dealing with mutated viruses. But you have to wait patiently, because this new type of vaccine takes a long time, about 10 years because it has to go through development and licensing," said Gates.

Previously known, this Corona virus outbreak initially spread in Wuhan, China. It is believed that the corona virus originated from the meat of wild animals that were traded at an animal market in the center of Wuhan City.

The spread of the Corona virus itself has caused shocks to the economy. Several airlines have canceled flights to China, while Starbucks, McDonald's and Ikea decided to close hundreds of stores across the country.

This outbreak has also hit global markets including stock exchanges and casinos in a number of countries. According to the latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been nearly 6,000 cases of patients suspected of being infected with the coronavirus in China.