Bill Gates' 'Sigh'... "US Still Doesn't Get COVID Test Results Within 24 Hours"

"This Fall Will Also Not Be Easy," Forecast

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft (MS), criticized the United States' response system to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). He said it is "shocking" that it still takes more than 24 hours to get COVID-19 test results.

On the 20th (local time), Gates appeared on Fox News in the U.S. and said, "Even today, people cannot receive their COVID-19 infection status within 24 hours. It is shocking that we are still at this level."

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft (MS)
[Photo by Yonhap News]

During the initial spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., test results could not be received quickly due to a shortage of diagnostic equipment. Although the situation has improved six months later, it is still insufficient. Gates pointed out, "We cannot even claim that we are responding well now." He argued that political leaders and health officials should honestly acknowledge the current testing situation and seek ways to find more effective methods.

Gates said, "One reason why no one steps up to fix diagnostic testing is because they do not want to admit that the current situation is shocking," adding, "The U.S. has more testing equipment than any other country in the world, yet this is the case."

The U.S. government's explanation for the criticism that COVID-19 diagnostic testing is not being properly conducted is different. When asked why more than one million tests are not conducted daily, Brett Giroir, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, explained that the number of new confirmed cases has decreased, so the number of people who need to be tested and traced has also decreased.

Gates evaluated that measures such as movement restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump also partially had a negative impact on the U.S. acquiring diagnostic testing capabilities. By having people stay home all at once without preparing diagnostic equipment or procedures, the mid- to long-term response capacity was weakened.

Gates said, "Because of these measures, we not only had a bad spring but also a difficult summer," and predicted, "Until new tools are in place, this fall will also be a difficult period due to seasonal characteristics."