Bill Gates compares COVID-19 to WWII as it defines a generation

Bill Gates on Thursday compared COVID-19 to World War Two and said ‘it’s impossible to overstate the pain’ that will be felt for ‘years to come’. 

The billionaire philanthropist detailed how ‘the first modern pandemic’ will define a generation in a lengthy memo posted online. 

He wrote: ‘This is like a world war, except in this case, we’re all on the same side. 

‘It is impossible to overstate the pain that people are feeling now and will continue to feel for years to come.’ 

Microsoft co-founder Gates and his wife Melinda have already donated around $45 billion towards vaccination research to tackle pandemics through their foundation. 

Gates said in his post: ‘Melinda and I grew up learning that World War II was the defining moment of our parents’ generation. In a similar way, the COVID-19 pandemic—the first modern pandemic—will define this era.

‘No one who lives through Pandemic 1 will ever forget it.’

Describing how society will comeback from lockdowns Gates said to ‘picture restaurants that only seat people at every other table and airplanes where every middle seat is empty’.

He warned: ‘If in the spring of 2021 people are going to big public events—like a game or concert in a stadium—it will be because we have a miraculous treatment that made people feel confident about going out again.

‘Schools are open, but you can’t fill a stadium with 70,000 people. 

‘People are working some and spending some of their earnings, but not as much as they were before the pandemic. In short, times are abnormal but not as abnormal as during the first phase.’ 

But he did offer reason for optimism, writing: ‘During World War II, an amazing amount of innovation, including radar, reliable torpedoes, and code-breaking, helped end the war faster. This will be the same with the pandemic.’ 

Microsoft co-founder Gates and his wife Melinda have already donated around $45 billion towards vaccination research to tackle pandemics through their foundation. Board Certified Chaplain Bill Simpson prays with a patient  in Shawnee, Oklahoma

Describing how society will comeback from lockdowns Gates said to ‘picture restaurants that only seat people at every other table and airplanes where every middle seat is empty. A view of 42nd Street during the coronavirus pandemic on April 23

Gates, who said lockdowns have saved millions of lives, has been outspoken throughout the outbreak.

In March he urged the public to practice social distancing and pleaded for Donald Trump to implement a country-wide shutdown as he predicted that COVID-19 cases would peak in late April.

In a TED interview last month Gates didn’t mention Trump by name but expressed dismay over his leadership as the president pushed to reopen the country. 

Gates has slammed world leaders for not investing in testing and equipment sooner when the virus first came to light in China last December. 

The billionaire slammed governments for not preparing for a pandemic by simulating possible scenarios and stress-testing their infrastructure.   

Demonstrators in Annapolis, Maryland demand that Gov. Larry Hogan lift restrictions that have closed businesses since the coronavirus outbreak 

The couple have long spoken about the fears of a pandemic and had warned that the world was not prepared to respond at a global level.  

Melinda Gates said the world is likely to be permanently changed by the pandemic and predicted there could more similar outbreaks in the future. 

Bill said Thursday: ‘The basic principal should be to allow activities that have a large benefit to the economy or human welfare, but pose a small risk of infection.’