Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates has cautioned against rushing back to normal business life, suggesting that the coronavirus crisis could last for six to 10 weeks.
Gates’ warning comes in response to President Donald Trump’s statement on Tuesday, expressing hope for the reopening of the U.S. economy and business life by Easter, in contrast to the advice of some public health officials.
In a virtual Ted interview, Gates, who announced he will be stepping down from the Microsoft board to focus on philanthropy and aiding in the fight against diseases, delivered a somber warning. He stated:
It’s very tough to tell people, “Keep going to restaurants, buy new houses, ignore that pile of bodies in the corner, and keep spending because some politician thinks GDP growth is what counts.”
‘It’s hard to ask people to continue their activities during an epidemic while knowing that their actions are contributing to the spread of this disease.’
According to Gates, the U.S. did not act quickly enough to prevent the need for a shutdown. He commented, ‘The U.S. missed the opportunity to control (COVID-19) without a shutdown. It should have been recognized in January.’
‘Instead of lasting 18 months until a vaccine can be developed, the present crisis may only last six to 10 weeks in some countries,” Bill Gates added.