Bill Gates - who had warned world leaders of a dangerous epidemic in 2015 - presented a three-point plan explaining how to defeat the Corona virus in the United States.
He wrote an editorial for The Washington Post, in which he made recommendations based on consultations he had conducted with experts through his work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that funded research to treat the virus that causes respiratory disease known as Covid-19.
"There is no doubt that the United States has missed the opportunity to advance in its war against the Corona virus," Gates wrote. "But the opportunity to make important decisions has not yet been closed."
"The choices that we and our leaders make now will have a tremendous impact on when the injury numbers will start to fall, how long the economy will remain closed, and how many Americans will have to bury a loved one because of Covid-19."
To date, HIV infections have exceeded two hundred thousand people in the United States, and the number of deaths due to it has exceeded five thousand.
Gates explains his plan that the first point is to call for a "consistent approach nationwide" in the United States of closures. He described the fact that some states were not completely closed as a true recipe for disaster. "
"The virus is transmitted freely in the United States because people can travel along state lines," he says. "The country's leaders must be clear: stopping operating anywhere means closing everywhere. Until the number of cases begins to decrease across America - which may take ten weeks or more - no one can continue to operate as usual or reduce the closure."
"Any confusion on this point will increase economic pain, increase the chances of the virus returning and cause more deaths," added the Microsoft founder.
He also reminded the federal government that the second point in the plan calls for an intensification of testing and the establishment of a clear system about who will be tested first, with the highest priority given to health care workers and first responders. He said the test should include "those with severe symptoms who are at greatest risk of developing a serious disease and who may be at risk of infection."
The third and final step - as Gates made clear - is to take a "data-driven approach to developing treatments and vaccines" and urge leaders to help by "not stirring up rumors or spreading panic".
He concluded by saying, "As we saw this year, we have a long way to go" and continued, "But I still believe that if we make the right decisions now, enlightening the science, data and experience of medical professionals, we can save lives" and put people back to work.