US provides $37 million for Philippines, other countries vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has committed $37 million in aid for the Philippines and 24 other countries affected or at high risk from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Mark Green, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said the $37 million would be drawn from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also a recipient of the fund.

The amount was part of the pledge of up to $100 million announced by the US State Department on Feb. 7.

“Because an infectious disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, we call on other donors to contribute to the effort to combat COVID-19 as well,” Green said in a statement.

The new funding will help address the threat of COVID-19 in the Philippines and in other high-priority countries.

USAID said the funds will help recipient countries prepare their laboratories for large-scale testing for COVID-19, implement a public health emergency plan for points of entry, activate case finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid response teams, investigate cases and trace the contacts of infected persons and adapt training materials for health workers on COVID-19.