The United States has quickly mobilized US$6 million to provide test kits to Antigua and Barbuda and more than 60 other countries to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Each test kit contains supplies for 2,000 testing samples, including non-consumable equipment that can be used to conduct additional testing.
This emergency assistance is part of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) response to requests for support in controlling an increasing number of infections worldwide.
The IAEA’s role in combatting COVID-19 stems from its expertise and experience in detecting outbreaks of certain viral diseases and in using nuclear-derived techniques in diagnosing them. One such technique is Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), which makes it possible to identify the COVID-19 virus within hours.
IAEA member states have so far announced more than US$10 million in financial contributions to emergency IAEA COVID-19 assistance, including US$6 million from the United States. It is part of a multi-national IAEA effort to provide dozens of laboratories in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America with diagnostic machines, reagents, and laboratory consumables to speed up national testing, which is crucial in containing the outbreak. Countries will also receive biosafety supplies, such as personal protection equipment and laboratory cabinets for the safe analysis of collected samples.
“These testing kits are just one example of how the United States is deploying the full range of resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19 both within our own country and across the globe”, said U.S. Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda Linda Taglialatela. “This is a challenge without precedent in our lifetime, but we are committed to fighting it together.”
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What am I to understand from this article? Did Antigua & Barbuda get 2000 test kits?
Yes. At a value of US$6 Mullion. Do you have a problem with that? Just say thanks. Just say thanks. It is better than nothing. Thanks.
Well Antigua and Barbuda talk so much crab about Donald Trump and the USA, yet they are still helping us out .. smh .. thank you Mr Trump! Regardless of the mass opinion of you, you didn’t have to.
The same Donlod Trump who huffing ventilators and mask from other countries all over the world just gimmie a break. Cuba has done wayyyyyyyyyyyy more for us them the orange cheetoe in the white house.
I’m sure Trump the Grump didn’t have anything to do with this. In fact we better take it quickly before he finds out, and claws it back, just like he did with the masks that were designated for Canada. He put a stop to that when he found out about it. By the way that 6 million of is 60 countries, not just Antigua. We should be thankful for anything received, of course, and we are. Special thanks to the US Ambassador who likely had something to do with this. Special thanks also to the people of the European Union, China, and Cuba for all the help they are sending our sending this way.
Susan G – you have to be intellectually challenged for real. You think trump took this out of his pocket and gave it personally? He probably doesn’t even know it happened. This was a decision made by a body for the greater good of the world and therefore the US. No need to act like we owe trump for anything 🙄🤦🏼♀️
Would Trump even be able to find Antigua on a map?
This article is not adding up. The facts founds on the IAEA site makes clear:
Dozens of laboratories in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean will receive diagnostic machines and kits, reagents and laboratory consumables to speed up national testing, which is crucial in containing the outbreak. They will also receive biosafety supplies, such as personal protection equipment and laboratory cabinets for the safe analysis of collected samples. Further deliveries of equipment to the growing number of countries seeking assistance are expected in the coming weeks.
The IAEA is using its own resources as well as extrabudgetary funding for its emergency COVID-19 assistance. Member States have so far announced more than €9.5 million in extrabudgetary financial contributions to the IAEA for this purpose, including US $6 million from the United States, CAD $5 million from Canada and €500 000 from the Netherlands. Australia has also made an important contribution. In addition, China has informed the IAEA about donations of detection equipment, kits, reagents and other medical materials worth US $2 million and provision of expert services.
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