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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman shares measures the public can take to help curb COVID-19 from home. By collectively following public health guidance, practicing physical distancing, and giving financially when able, communities can save lives around the world. As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread around the world, the foundation is ramping up support for organizations doing important, life-saving work. Like you, we are saddened by the stories we see on the news and that we’re hearing from our own loved ones affected by this disease. We’ve already committed up to $100 million for efforts on COVID-19 globally, with another $5 million to support excellent programs in the greater Seattle area, and we’ll continue to see where our resources and expertise can be most effective as we take on this threat.
First, follow public health guidance. We are all in this together, and the more we do to keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy, the better positioned we’ll all be to weather this challenge. That means washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, cleaning surfaces regularly, and coughing into your elbow to prevent spreading germs. It also means respecting any shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders advised by leaders in your state and community. It’s not just for your own protection; it’s also to support people working in our healthcare services and other vital industries who aren’t able to stay indoors or work from home. With a highly contagious pathogen like COVID-19, small steps really can make a big difference.
Second, practice physical distancing. Stay home as much as possible. Avoid all nonessential travel and social gatherings. Look for ways to turn in-person events into remote connections, and to interact using phone calls and video chats rather than visits. If you are safely able to—or must--go outside, stay at least six feet away from others. By practicing this kind of physical distancing, you can help prevent the spread of the virus to yourself and to others. And if you live in a place where physical distancing is not possible, do your best to follow some of the guidance above: avoid touching your face, cough into your elbow, and minimize physical contact with others as much as possible.
