Chinese Billionaire Donates 1M Masks & 500K Coronavirus Test Kits To U.S.
Billionaire Jack Ma is doing his part to help our country
As the US continues to prepare for the continued spread of coronavirus across our country, testing kits and medical face masks are in dire need as we fall woefully behind other nations in the number of tests performed. As shortages continue, Alibaba billionaire, business magnate, investor, and politician Jack Ma is stepping up in a big way to help.
In a statement released by his charitable foundation, Ma let people know he’s been collecting medical supplies for weeks to help provide much-needed health and safety products and will be donating 500,000 test kits and one million masks to the U.S.
“Drawing from my own country’s experience, speedy and accurate testing and adequate personal protective equipment for medical professionals are most effective in preventing the spread of the virus. We hope that our donation can help Americans fight against the pandemic!” Ma said in a statement released by his charitable foundation on Twitter Friday morning.
“At this moment, we can not beat the virus until we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons,” he says.
Ma’s announcement comes as Trump aides and allies continue to cast blame on China, with some officials calling it “the Wuhan virus.” National security adviser Robert O’Brien has accused China of covering up the health crisis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has labeled the outbreak the “Wuhan coronavirus,” according to Politico.
U.S. testing of coronavirus was hampered by flawed test kits distributed by the federal government back in February, which gave some false results. As a result, the outbreak has infected more than 1,660 individuals in the United States to date.
“The crisis presents a huge challenge to all humankind in a globalized world. The pandemic we face today can no longer be resolved by any individual country,” Ma said in the statement. “Rather, we need to combat the virus by working hand-in-hand. At this moment, we can’t beat this virus unless we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons.”
Ma, Asia’s richest man, has also donated supplies to other countries being hit by the virus, including Japan, Korea, Italy, Iran, and Spain. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 128,000 people and killed nearly 4,700 worldwide, including 40 Americans.
“We hope that our donation can help Americans fight against the pandemic!” Ma said in the statement announcing the donation.
