Seattle: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms. Via Twitter, the billionaire philanthropist said he will isolate himself until he is again healthy. “I’m fortunate to be vaccinated and boosted and have access to testing and great medical care,” Gates wrote. He added that he would join a virtual meeting of The Gates Foundation.
“The Gates Foundation is coming together today for the first time in two years, and I am lucky to be on Teams to see everyone and thank them for their hard work,” wrote the philanthropist. The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the most influential private foundation in the world, with an endowment of about $65 billion. Bill Gates has been a vocal proponent of pandemic mitigation measures, specifical access to vaccines and medication for poorer countries.
The Gates Foundation in October said it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill for lower-income countries. Bill Gates’ Covid diagnosis came shortly after the billionaire warned that the pandemic is far from over. “We haven’t even seen the worst of it,” he said in an interview. “We’re still at risk of this pandemic generating a variant that would be even more transmissive and even more fatal.” He added.