WHO Calls for $675 Million to Combat Coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the global community to allocate $675 million to fight the 2019-nCoV coronavirus, which has led to an outbreak of a new type of pneumonia. The financial resources are necessary for antiviral operations in the next three months, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"We are asking for $675 million to carry out work over the next three months," he stated. The WHO chief noted that the organization will launch a "strategic preparedness plan on February 5 to help countries prevent, detect, and diagnose coronavirus transmission."

As emphasized by the WHO Director-General, while $675 million is a substantial amount, it is much less than the price we will pay if we do not invest in preparedness efforts now. According to him, the coronavirus cannot be defeated without political, technical, and financial solidarity.

The WHO chief explained that $60 million of the requested funds will be allocated to operations carried out by the WHO, while the remainder will be directed to countries with "special risk."

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that they will continue to support the Chinese government in its fight against the coronavirus.