A Chinese medical team arrived in Italy late on Thursday as part of an exchange of medical know-how and material from China, the source of the coronavirus outbreak, to Italy, its current epicentre.
The nine-person Chinese team of experts brought with them nine cargo pallets of equipment, including surplus ventilators and protective masks.
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The team includes intensive care specialists, paediatricians and nurses who helped manage the crisis in China.
Italian officials say they are eager to learn from the Chinese team’s experience, particularly their knowledge of clinical data and experimental drug regimens.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told the U.N. that his nation wants to conduct joint research on drugs and vaccines and offer as much assistance as it can to countries where the novel coronavirus is spreading.
State media reported Friday that Xi told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres by phone that economic and daily life is gradually returning to normal in China thanks to arduous endeavours at prevention and control.
With 15,113 positive cases and 1,016 dead confirmed on Thursday, Italy’s fatality rate is running at 6.7%, far higher than other countries.
Role reversal in China as it is now trying to keep the virus from coming back in
From quarantining arriving travellers from overseas to nabbing those sneaking in with fevers, China and other parts of Asia are scrambling to prevent the new coronavirus from coming back to where it first broke out.
Just as the spread of the disease is stabilizing in much of Asia, following a major outbreak in China and sizable ones in South Korea and Japan, it is popping up in new hot spots around the world.
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Those three countries announced expanded border controls this week that mimic many of the bans and restrictions placed on China in the early days of the outbreak. China, which didn’t have enough protective equipment for its medical workers a few weeks ago, is now donating supplies to Italy, Iran, South Korea and other affected places.
China reported Friday just eight new cases of the virus in the previous 24 hours, and three were imported from Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom. The number has dropped sharply from a month ago when the daily figure was in the thousands. Nearly 90 imported cases have been identified in recent weeks.
Europe gears up for the fight against COVID-19
Speaking later on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would not shut schools but recommended that events be cancelled to avoid the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Spain announced a full lockdown of four provinces in the Catalonia region.
Around 66,000 people across four municipalities in northern Spain will be allowed to leave their homes but not beyond the limits of their towns, the government said.
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged anyone with a cough to stay at home for seven days but ruled out closing schools as “too early” because the UK was “about four weeks behind Italy.”
Although Britain has more than 500 confirmed cases, the true number infected is likely to be between 5,000 and 10,000.
“This is the worst public health crisis for a generation,” Johnson said, adding that “the true number of cases is higher perhaps than the number of cases we have so far confirmed with tests.”
“I must level with you, the British public … more families, many more families, are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
The EU warned that healthcare systems across Europe are at “high” risk of being overwhelmed by coronavirus as the death toll in Italy surged past 1,000 and financial markets suffered their worst losses on record.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) urged countries to begin prioritising cases to protect the elderly and vulnerable.
“A rapid shift from containment to a mitigation approach is required” ahead of an expected spike in cases, it said. “The risk of healthcare system capacity being exceeded in the EU/EEA and the UK in the coming weeks is considered high.”
In other major coronavirus developments on Thursday:
- India registers its first coronavirus death amid 73 cases overall
- Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu proposed an interim unity government to tackle the spread of coronavirus
- On Thursday, Macron ordered schools, creches and universities across France will be closed from Monday on and asked people over 70 years old to stay at home.
- Vatican orders closure of all Catholic churches in Rome
- Italy’s death toll climbed to 1,016, with 15,113 cases
- Ireland, Turkey and Norway enter partial lockdown, shutting schools and public facilities
- Sophie Trudeau, wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau tested positive
- Markets endure another day of record-breaking losses
- Poland and Austria announce first deaths
- European Commission orders all non-essential workers home
- 75 more die in Iran, which asks IMF for a multi-million dollar loan
- Trump limits all travel from Schengen area for 30 days
- Juventus v Lyon postponed after Rugani diagnosed with coronavirus
- Guinness PRO14 rugby tournament postponed
- EU slams Donald Trump for imposing travel ban on Schengen zone
EU healthcare systems are at “high” risk of being overwhelmed
The EU warned that healthcare systems across Europe are at “high” risk of being overwhelmed by coronavirus as the death toll in Italy surged past 1,000 and financial markets suffered their worst losses on record.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) urged countries to begin prioritising cases to protect the elderly and vulnerable.
“A rapid shift from containment to a mitigation approach is required” ahead of an expected spike in cases, it said. “The risk of healthcare system capacity being exceeded in the EU/EEA and the UK in the coming weeks is considered high.”
Italy issues fines for breaking lockdown rules
Italy has tightened its lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic and has started to fine and arrest citizens who violate the restriction of movement.
Euronews spoke to Lea Quartapelle (Democratic party), a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. She said the government suggests people go on leave or take vacation days off, or switch to working from home.
“We’ve seen too many people still going around,” she pointed out. “People have to stay at home. This message has been made clear,” Qartapelle notes.
“It is difficult in a democratic country to stop doing whatever you are doing to renounce your freedom.”
She added that the closure of non-essential shops should make it easier for people to determine, which of their outdoor activities are indeed essential.
Italy has ordered all shops to close except for newsstands, pharmacies and grocery stories.
Quartapelle admitted that it is “complicated” to enforce the rules, and said people have been arrested, citing the example of two friends from Rome and Milan who had met up in Sicily. Moreover, people have been arrested on their way to the airport in a red zone. They had intended to go on a vacation in Spain.
Euronews reporter Alession Dell’Anna is on lockdown in Milan. He said it is a “proper quarantine.” “We can’t go out for walks. We cannot go out for a run in the park,” he said.
Citizens who are out on the streets have to carry a document that states why and where they are going.
Source: euronews