LONDON — A leading global health fund has asked international businesses and governments to provide $8 billion to support development and production of COVID-19 tests, drugs and vaccines. British-based Wellcome Trust said the initiative, dubbed COVID-Zero, is aimed at the private sector and it is urging chief executives of multinational companies to join the coalition and save lives. An initial $8 billion by the end of April - a fraction of the sums wealthy governments have injected into struggling economies - would be enough to develop new COVID-19 tests, drugs and vaccines and to begin scaling up production, the fund said. "This is a global issue that will continue to plague the world and businesses for months, if not years, to come," said Jeremy Farrar, Wellcome's director.

Source: International New York Times April 07, 2020 10:52 UTC