Chinese Embassy updates on coronavirus in China
Correspondent | Friday March 13, 2020 13:09
The latest information includes 33 new suspected cases (including two in Hubei), 1,318 cured and discharged cases (including 1,242 in Hubei) and 11 deaths (including 10 in Hubei) reported from the mainland.
Hubei’s new COVID-19 cases drop to single digit.
Central China’s Hubei Province reported eight new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on March 11, local health commission said on the 12th.
All of the new confirmed cases were reported in Wuhan, the provincial capital and epicenter of the outbreak. On March 11, Hubei reported 10 deaths, seven of which were in Wuhan. The latest report brought the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the hard-hit province to 67,781. As of March 11, Hubei had seen no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for seven consecutive days in its 16 cities and prefectures outside Wuhan.
Outside of Hubei, Chinese mainland had seven new cases, including six cases imported from abroad. Of the six imported cases, Guangdong province accounted for three, while Gansu province and Henan province were responsible for two and one, respectively.
Hubei Province to resume work and production in an orderly manner.
On March 11, Hubei Province announced resuming work and production in an orderly manner. A statement released by the provincial command centre for the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus said work shall resume in the province based on different situations. It said companies, which produce medical supplies and agricultural products, deal with public services and play vital role in domestic or international trade can resume work in Wuhan City. However, limitations on public transportation shall remain and authorities have further postponed the opening of schools, the statement said.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said China would contribute to the global fight in five areas.
When asked about international cooperation in fighting against the pandemic in a press conference on March 11, Shuang said, while combating COVID-19 at home, China is ready to contribute to the global response in the following five areas: step up communication and coordination with the WHO and the international community; continue experience-sharing and exchange with other countries; send medical specialists to more countries and regions in need; provide medicines and other supplies to the international community; and ramp up cooperation with the international community on science and technology.
China has sent an anti-pandemic expert team to Italy to help fight COVID-19.
The medical expert team sent to Italy will help fight the epidemic and bring humanitarian relief supplies to support Italy in fighting the COVID-19.
A vice president of the Red Cross Society of China and an expert from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention lead the expert group. Five other experts from Sichuan Province were also appointed to participate, including two medical experts from West China Hospital of Sichuan University.
Liang Zong An, director of the Department of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine of the hospital, said they will mainly provide professional guidance after they arrive in Italy, especially to cses of those in critical conditions.
“The mortality rate in Italy is high, particularly among the elderly,” he said. “The medical systems of China and Italy might be different, and our experience may not be entirely suitable for them. But when it comes to emergency treatment methods, there are commonalities.” Meanwhile, Tang Menglin, head nurse of the Paediatric Section at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital, said they would also share their experience in treating critical patients in ICU.
*Wang Jie is attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Botswana.
WANG JIE*