Statement from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman on Momentum in Global COVID-19 Response

SEATTLE, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The death toll from COVID-19 passed one million this week. It is a sobering moment. But there is cause for optimism as recent days have seen a significant surge in momentum around global cooperation, which is our greatest strength when it comes to consigning this pandemic to the history books.
This is a shared global crisis that demands a shared global response. The only way to fully protect one nation is to protect every nation. And countries and companies are stepping up in unprecedented ways to make sure that the tools to fight this disease are available, affordable, and accessible to everyone who needs them.
The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is the best shot we have for this. Created just five months ago, this collaboration is already delivering incredible results. A ground-breaking agreement announced on Monday will provide 120 million rapid