Talks underway on Chinese medical team going to PH to help fight vs COVID-19 — envoy
MANILA, Philippines — Talks regarding a team of Chinese medical experts going to the Philippines are already underway, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Monday.
“Merong medical team na inihahanda para tumulong sa atin. That will be done soon kasi pinaguusapan na ‘yung details kung kailan makakapunta, kung sino sino,” Sta. Roman said in a televised public briefing.
(There is a medical team being readied to help us. That will be done soon. Details on when they are going and who are going are already being discussed.)
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier said that the Department of Health (DOH) allegedly blocked the entry of Chinese doctors in the country.
But DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III denied the claim, saying the agency is in fact waiting for the arrival of Chinese experts.
Article continues after this advertisementThese Chinese experts, Duque said, will give their advice on how to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.
While the number of local cases in China has been falling over the past weeks, the number of imported cases remained in an upward trend.
In the Philippines, health officials have so far confirmed 1,418 COVID-19 cases, of which 71 have already died and 42 have recovered.
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
