Manila seeks Chinese help in fight versus novel coronavirus

THE Philippines has sought China’s help in battling a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that has sickened more than 1,500 people and killed 78 mostly in Manila, the capital.

“We want them to share their expertise with us,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told a news briefing in Filipino on Monday, noting how China had managed to tame the virus.

The Department of Health (DoH) yesterday reported 128 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total infections to 1,546.

Seven more patients aged 43 to 79 years died, while the number of those who have gotten well remained at 42, it said in a bulletin.

The Chinese Embassy and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. separately said earlier China would send a team of medical experts to Manila.

The Philippines has reported a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past week after China donated more than 100,000 COVID -19 test kits.

“That will be done soon,” Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana said at the same briefing, referring to China’s plan to send medical experts.

The envoy said details were being ironed out, including how many experts will come.

The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak first emerged, started lifting a two-month lockdown on Saturday. Some services in the city have restarted while the borders were reopened to allow families to reunite.

Mr. Sta. Romana also said China had resumed operations of public transportation.

China also built temporary quarantine zones and exclusive facilities for treating COVID-19 patients and those under monitoring and investigation.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte locked down the entire Luzon island on March 16 to contain the virus, suspending classes, work and public transportation.

DoH yesterday traced the spike to expanded laboratory capacities.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City can now test 900 to 1,000 samples daily, its director Celia C. Carlos said.

Ms. Vergeire said the laboratories in San Lazaro Hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and University of the Philippines-National Institutes for Health can test up to 200 samples daily.

She also said they were waiting for the delivery of a million sets of personal protective equipment worth P1.8 billion.

Health workers in public hospitals would be prioritized but private hospitals will also get their share, Ms. Vergeire said at a news briefing. — and