World leaders pledge billions for vaccine fight
A lot more than $8bn (£6.5bn) has been pledged to greatly help develop a coronavirus vaccine and fund research into the diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
Some 40 countries and donors took part in an online summit hosted by the EU.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the money would help kickstart unprecedented global co-operation.
She said it showed the real value of unity and humanity, but warned a lot more would be needed in the times ahead.
In total, a lot more than 30 countries, along with UN and philanthropic bodies and research institutes, made donations.
Donors also included pop singer Madonna, who pledged €1m ($1.1m), said Ms von der Leyen, who lay out the Brussels-led initiative on Friday.
The European Commission pledged $1bn to invest in research on a vaccine. Norway matched the European Commission's contribution, and France has pledged €500m, as have Saudi Arabia and Germany. Japan pledged more than $800m.
THE UNITED STATES and Russia didn't take part. China, where in fact the virus originated in December, was represented by its ambassador to europe.
Of the money raised, $4.4bn will go on vaccine development, some $2bn on the visit a treatment and $1.6bn for making tests, the EU said.
In her opening remarks at the summit, Ms von der Leyen said everyone must chip in to finance "a really global endeavour".
"I believe 4 May will mark a turning point in our fight coronavirus because today the world is coming together," she said.
"The partners are many, the target is one: to defeat this virus."
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, another co-host of the conference, said the "more we pull together" in sharing expertise, "the faster our scientists will succeed" in creating a vaccine.
Mr Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care with Covid-19, was to verify the UK's pledge of £388m for vaccine research, testing and treatment during the conference.
Along with the European Commission, the conference is being co-hosted by the united kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and Saudi Arabia.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are also among those who have registered to the initiative.
In the open letter published in weekend newspapers, the leaders said the funds raised would "kickstart an unprecedented global co-operation between scientists and regulators, industry and governments, international organisations, foundations and healthcare professionals".
"If we can develop a vaccine that is produced by the world, for the whole world, this is a unique global public good of the 21st Century," they added.
As well, the signatories gave their backing to the World Health Organization when confronted with US criticism of its handling of the outbreak.
The UN says a go back to normal life is only going to be possible with a vaccine.
Dozens of studies trying to look for a vaccine are currently under way across the world.
Even with more financial commitment, it will require time to learn which ones my work and how well.
Most experts think it might take until mid-2021, about 12-18 months following the new virus first emerged, for a vaccine to become available.
