Michael Bloomberg To Donate $40M To Fight Coronavirus

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg gives a speech during a ceremony to attribute "Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control" on the second day of the 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health on March 18, 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Billionaire philanthropists Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates launched the joint Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund to support developing countries passing tobacco-control laws in their legal battle with the industry giants. AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

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Michael Bloomberg To Donate $40M To Fight Coronavirus In Africa & World

RELATED: Michael Bloomberg Drops Out Of The Presidential Race

Michael Bloomberg might be out of the presidential race, but he’s still doing his part.

According to ABC News, the former New York City mayor revealed on Tuesday that he is pledging $40 million towards “immediate action” in the fight against coronavirus for low and middle-income countries such as Africa. The initiative will connect leaders to those specializing in fighting the virus and helping the healthcare workers in those countries battle the spread.

“The initiative will fund rapid response teams that will be deployed to prevent and detect infection; train frontline healthcare workers in infection prevention and control; develop lab networks to manage and transport specimens to central laboratories for COVID-19 diagnosis; measure acceptance and impact of containment strategies such as school and church closures and cancellation of mass gatherings through rapid mobile phone surveys; provide communications support such as public education campaigns; and provide technical expertise to global and regional health organizations.”

“Millions of lives depend on getting the coronavirus response right – and so does the economic and social health of communities around the world. We need to slow transmission of the virus and minimize the impact of the outbreak in all countries,” Bloomberg added. “As we launch the Coronavirus Local Response Initiative this week here in the U.S., we also are creating a new effort to prevent its spread globally, particularly in Africa. I know from my experience as mayor of New York City that giving public health professionals the tools to protect the public is vital to saving lives – and to help mitigate the kind of economic and social damage that could make this crisis even more debilitating for families and communities.”

Bloomberg will be partnering up with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies to implement the relief.

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