G20 pledges more than $21 billion to fight coronavirus

G20 pledges more than $21 billion to fight coronavirus

Filed on June 6, 2020 | Last updated on June 6, 2020 at 08.51 am. Saudi Arabia, the current G20 chair has pledged $500 million to support global efforts to combat the pandemic.. The Group of 20 rich and emerging economies has pledged more than $21 billion to fight the coronavirus, the group said early on Saturday.. "The G20, with invited countries, has coordinated the global efforts to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.. To date, G20 members and invited countries have pledged over US$21 billion to support funding in global health," the group said in a statement.. The pledges will be directed towards diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and research and development, the statement added.. In April the group called on all countries, non-governmental organisations, philanthropies and the private sector to help close a financing gap estimated at over $8 billion to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.. It said then it would allocate $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, $150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations, and $200 million to other health organisations and programmes.. At least 391,108 people have died globally from Covid-19 and more than 6.68 million people have been infected by