MANILA, Philippines — Test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), surgical masks and other medical equipment arrived in Manila from China on Saturday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement sent to reporters, the DFA Media Team said Foreign Affairs Teodoro “Teddy” Boy Locsin Jr. met with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xi Lian for the turnover of the medical supplies.
“The donation of the Chinese Government to the Philippines which included medical supplies such as fast-test kits, surgical masks, N95 masks, and personal protective equipment (PPE),” read the statement.
The donated supplies for health personnel include 100,000 test kits, 100,000 surgical masks, 10,000 N95 masks and 10,000 sets of personal protective equipment.
Previously, several health workers from hospitals called for the donation of face masks as a shortage of this protective equipment would make them vulnerable to the coronavirus disease.
To date, the Philippine health department recorded 230 cases of the respiratory disease, caused by the novel coronavirus. Of which, 18 died while eight recovered from the disease.