Chinese experts suggest more quarantine sites, improved test capabilities in PH

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese officials and health professionals, who visited the country to share their advice on the prevention and control of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), suggested that testing capabilities should be improved, as well as more quarantine sites should be built, the Chinese Embassy said Friday.

“Based on China’s anti-epidemic experience, the China medical expert team has also put forward some technical suggestions with regard to improving diagnosis and treatment capabilities, building more medical and quarantine sites, and tracing the source of all suspected cases, for the reference of the Philippines to fight against the epidemic effectively,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said in an online press conference.

Huang added that the 12-man medical expert team observed that the Philippine government took “prompt and strong prevention and control measures against the epidemic.”

The medical team sent by the Chinese government arrived in the Philippines on April 5.

During their visit in Manila, the medical expert team met with the Department of Health, staff of the Incident Command System and the officers of the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific “to exchange experience and practice, with the aim to further improve the Philippines’ epidemic prevention and control policies and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and executive ability.”

The medical experts, Huang added, visited more than 10 medical agencies, which include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Lung Center of the Philippines. They also talked public health officials and professionals.

“Besides providing China’s latest Edition of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia’s Diagnosis, they also shared with the Philippine side their rich clinical experience and diagnosis and treatment methods and in particular the protection measures for the medical staff,” Huang said.

The team also conducted video lectures on epidemic prevention, as well as personal hygiene and health management guidance. According to Huang, 70,000 people joined the online lectures.

The Philippines continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, with its record as of Friday is at 5,878 COVID-19 cases, with 487 recoveries, as well as 387 fatalities.

Edited by JPV