Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates is an intelligent man, but he's not a doctor nor a medical scientist. When it comes to that area, he has his own opinions just like anyone else. Gates' opinion, while probably slightly more well-resourced than the average person, isn't special just because of who he might be.
Case in point was Gates' take on the COVID-19 pandemic and China's culpability in the spread of the virus while talking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Sunday. Zakaria asked 64-year-old Gates about the growing assertion that China is responsible for the spread of the virus. While Gates downplayed China's response to the crisis, he said the U.S. responded "poorly."
Here's part of what Gates said:
Well, I don't think that's a timely thing, because it doesn't affect how we act today. China did a lot of things right, you know, at the beginning. Like any country where a virus first shows up, you know, they can look back and say where they missed some things. You know, some countries did respond very quickly and get their testing in place, and they avoided the incredible economic pain. And it's sad that even the U.S. - that you would've expected to do this well - did it particularly poorly. But it's not time to talk about that.
Gates also characterized talking about China's responsibility in the COVID-19 pandemic "a distraction."
"That's a distraction," Gates said. "I think there’s a lot of, you know, incorrect and unfair things said. But it’s not even time for that discussion."
Everyone is stuck at home. When is the proper time to discuss it? There's only so many TV shows you can binge watch before you go crazy.
For video of Gates' comments, watch below:
H/T: The Blaze