
Software developer, and world’s second-richest man, Bill Gates tweeted a video touting a pandemic response effort idea that is, as he described, “the best, in terms of policy, the world could buy.”
Gates has been front and center on the world-stage, touting his support for global pandemic responses, as well as donating $1.7 billion to “fight against COVID-19.”
In a Tweet sent out on 2/1/21, Gates said, “When it comes to preventing pandemics, scientific tools alone aren’t enough. We also need new capabilities, including a global alert system and infectious disease first responders (or what I like to call a pandemic fire squad)”
When it comes to preventing pandemics, scientific tools alone aren’t enough. We also need new capabilities, including a global alert system and infectious disease first responders (or what I like to call a pandemic fire squad): https://t.co/53Rf5uvjub pic.twitter.com/rTmM7STl6U
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) February 1, 2021
In the video, Gates expressed frustration with how the COVID pandemic was initially responded to. According to his video, Gates describes what he sees as the future-pandemic response saying, “by the next pandemic, I believe we can have what I call Mega Testing Diagnostic Platforms.” These platforms, according to Gates, can “test 20% of the entire population every week.”
As the video continued, Gates highlighted something called “Monoclonal Antibodies,” which are manufactured. Also, Gates wants to deploy a “Global Alert System and “Pandemic Firefighters” to monitor and respond to “the next pandemic.”
The video did not clarify how soon another pandemic could arrive.
Editor’s note: The term “fire squad” is a term some people use to describe firefighters. The use of “fire squad” is not a usual term and is not to be confused with any other term.