G20 pledges more than US$21 billion to fight coronavirus

Indian nationals, who were stranded in Singapore due to the coronavirus disease outbreak, are screened by medics wearing personal protective equipment at the airport upon their arrival in New Delhi, India, May 8, 2020. CAIRO: The Group of 20 rich and emerging economies has pledged more than US$21 billion to fight the coronavirus, the group said early on Saturday .

"The G20, with invited countries, has coordinated the global efforts to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, G20 members and invited countries have pledged over US$21 billion to support funding in global health," the group said in a statement.The pledges will be directed towards diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and research and development, the statement added.

In April the group called on all countries, non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and the private sector to help close a financing gap estimated at over US$8 billion to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia, the current G20 chair has pledged US$500 million to support global efforts to combat the pandemic. It said then it would allocate US$150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, US$150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations, and US$200 million to other health organisations and programmes.

At least 391,108 people have died globally from COVID-19 and more than 6.68 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus that causes it, following an outbreak that started in Wuhan, China, in early December.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

ZoomInfo IPO priced at US$21 per share in largest tech listing this yearREUTERS: ZoomInfo Technologies Inc priced its initial public offering (IPO) at US$21 per share, above its upwardly revised target range, in the ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

LVMH has explored coronavirus impact on Tiffany deal termsLVMH 's board met this week to discuss the fallout from the coronavirus crisis on its US$16.2 billion purchase of U.S. jeweller Tiffany , the ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Gap records nearly US$1 billion in losses on coronavirus-led store closuresGap Inc on Thursday reported a 43per cent fall in first-quarter sales, as the apparel retailer was forced to close its stores due to the COVID-19 ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Parliament: MPs raise concerns over tapping of national reserves to fund coronavirus fightSINGAPORE - As Singapore prepares to dig deeper than ever into national reserves to fund the fight against Covid-19, several MPs highlighted the need for fiscal prudence in Parliament on Thursday.. Read more at straitstimes.com. Understand their anxiety now that the reserves is being used to combat the virus and help the populace instead of fattening their Swiss bank account. She must understand that’s exactly what the funds are meant for!! To be used in exceptional situations. And this indeed is an emergency! We can ensure we have enough for future generations when we ensure the generations have a future to start with.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Uphill task for Taliban as COVID-19 spreads in militant bastionsThe Taliban boasted of their readiness to fight the deadly coronavirus when it first reached Afghanistan, but now the insurgents are struggling to ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Sweden urges protesters to take it online during pandemicThe Swedish government on Thursday urged its citizens to take their fight to the internet after thousands in the capital defied coronavirus ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »