06/06/2020

G20 ‏announces $21 billion in coronavirus funding

‏As the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus ‏continues to grow globally, the countries of the G20 pledged in a statement on Saturday to allocate more than ‎$21 ‏billion to fight the pandemic.

‏In its statement, the G20 said that the allocated funding will be used towards the procurement and development of diagnostic tools, ‏vaccines, ‏treatments, and research and development work.

‏Saudi Arabia, ‏which currently chairs the group, ‏has pledged nearly ‎$1 ‏billion to support global pandemic control efforts through funding the work of ‏the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), ‏the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), ‏and other relevant international and regional health organizations and programs.

‏In related news, ‏AstraZeneca has found that its leukemia treatment drug Kalquins has shown positive preliminary results in treating coronavirus patients.