China says ready to contribute to global fight against COVID-19 , sends expert team to Italy

Beijing – China is willing to contribute to the global fight against the novel coronavirus disease while continuing to ensure its epidemic prevention and control domestically, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the threat of a pandemic has become “very real.”

Thanks to the united and arduous efforts of the Chinese people, the current situation of China’s epidemic prevention and control has changed positively and achieved stage progress, Spokesperson Geng Shuang told a news briefing.

Meanwhile the epidemic broke out in many places across the world and keeps spreading, and some countries are suffering gravely from it, he said.

“Against such a backdrop, it is all the more important and urgent for all countries to step up communication, cooperation in jointly fighting the epidemic and safeguarding regional and international public health security.”

He said China will step up communication and coordination with the WHO and the international community. “With openness, transparency and a high sense of responsibility for global public health security and people’s well-being, we will continue information-sharing with the international community including the WHO. We will also strive to enhance coordination and cooperation to advance joint response at regional and global levels to stem the spread of the virus.”

China will continue experience-sharing and exchange with other countries, according to Geng. China has so far published seven guidelines on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment and six guidelines on prevention and control, all of which have been translated into multiple foreign languages.

“We would like to share these Chinese solutions with the world and hold exchanges over them,” he said. “We will continue exchanges and mutual learning with other countries and international organizations to jointly enhance regional and global capacity in safeguarding public health security.”

China has sent medical experts to Iran and Iraq and is also preparing to send experts to Italy to support local epidemic prevention and control, said Geng.

The country has provided medicine and other medical supplies to the international community. Geng said that China has decided to donate 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO, and provided masks, medicine, protective clothing and other anti-epidemic materials to relevant countries.

“China is ready to offer as much help as we can to countries in need,” said the spokesperson.

He said the country will ramp up cooperation with the international community on science and technology. “We would like to collaborate with other countries in medicines, vaccines and testing reagents, contributing China’s wisdom and proposals to securing an early global victory over the virus.”

“China will contribute to the global fight in these five areas. We will work with the international community with solidarity and mutual assistance to overcome the epidemic.” Geng said.

China sends anti-epidemic expert team to Italy

Meanwhile, China on Wednesday sent a medical expert team to Italy to help fight the epidemic and bring humanitarian relief supplies to support Italy in fighting against the COVID-19.

The expert group was led by a vice president of the Red Cross Society of China and an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Five other experts from Sichuan Province were also appointed to participate.

Italy has been hit hardest by COVID-19 outside China with confirmed cases breaking 10,000. It extended COVID-19 quarantine measures to the entire country, the most severe control measure adopted by a Western country since World War II, which bans public gathering, suspends all sporting events and restricts travelling abroad unless for emergencies.

Earlier today , Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, saying that though China still needs a large amount of medical materials, the country – despite the difficulties – will offer Italy medical materials, including face masks, and accelerate and enhance the export of supplies and equipment to meet Italy’s urgent needs.

Source: Xinhua / CGTN

COVID -19 Facts ( March 11 , 2020 )-

Coronavirus Cases:  122,235

Deaths:                      4,386

Recovered:               66,993

Active cases              50,856

Currently Infected Patients 45,103 (89%)

in Mild Condition, 5,753 (11%) Serious or Critical

Closed Cases 71,379

66,993 (94%) Recovered / Discharged

4,386 (6%)  Deaths

The World Health Organization says virus is now global “pandemic”

The number of cases in Europe continues to rise, with more than 10,000 in Italy.

Germany’s Merkel says 60-70% of country’s population could become infected.

UK chancellor unveils £30bn package to boost economy, as interest rate cut.A UK health minister, Nadine Dorries, is among 456 cases in Britain

As spread in China slows, Beijing to quarantine all international arrivals.

There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the US, where major events are being cancelled.