In an interview with Financial Times, Bill Gates stated his and his wife’s foundation will now concentrate its efforts and funding entirely on the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is backed by almost $40bn in funding, has already pledged $250m to efforts against the novel coronavirus.

The foundation is closing collaborating with the WHO on its commitment to accelerate vaccines, drugs and tests for Covid-19, as well as guarantee equitable access; the latter has always been a core commitment of the Gates Foundation.

However, Gates admitted this decision to focus on Covid-19 could be detrimental for its existing work in AIDS, polio, malaria and measles, for example.