The prime minister will join fellow world leaders in a virtual summit later aimed at galvanizing global efforts to find a vaccine for COVID – .
Boris Johnson will urge the international community to “pull together” in what he describes as “the most urgent shared endeavor of our lifetimes”.
The online pledging conference, which will be attended by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and representatives of the EU, aims to secure more than £ 6bn in funding to support the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This will be used to support the development of treatments, tests and ultimately the mass production of a vaccine if one can be found.
The UK has pledged to give £ 446 m in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £ 795 m commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy.
Writing in the Independent on Sunday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Norway said the “global challenge” required “bringing together the world’s best – and most prepared – minds to find the vaccines, treatments and therapies we need to make our world healthy again “.
They also said there should be a focus on” strengthening “health systems” with particular attention to Africa “.
” This is our generation’s duty and we know we can make this happen “, they added.
Mr Johnson is now not expected to set out a “road map” on how the UK will exit lockdown until Sunday – three days after the government must review the current restrictions.
Ministers have been under pressure to explain their exit strategy but ha ve so far resisted the calls – warning that to do so risks undermining the message to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus.
However on Sunday, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said some social distancing measures would remain in place until a vaccine has been developed but that the government would seek to restore people lives to “as close to normal as possible”.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , , spreaker
It comes as Mr Johnson has revealed that he feared he would not live to see his baby son Wilfred, who was born while he was suffering from COVID – () in intensive care last month.
“I won’t hide it from you, I was thinking about that, yes,” He told The Sun.
“I owe my life to our doctors and nurses and the healthcare workers,” he added. “They pulled my chestnuts out of the fire, no question.”
Meanwhile, a smartphone app to trace the spread of coronavirus will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out more widely later this month.
This week Kay Burley will be hosting a live Q&A with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. You can put your questions to Mr Hancock about the coronavirus and its impact on your life live on Sky News.
Email us your questions – or you can record a video clip of your question on your phone – and send it to
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings