A TEAM of medical experts and additional medical supplies will soon be arriving from China to help in efforts to stop the spread of the novel cororanvirus disease (Covid-19), according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana said he is now discussing with his Chinese counterparts the composition of the team as well as the possible date of their arrival in the country.
The ambassador noted that several private individuals from China, including Filipino-Chinese businessmen, will be sending the third batch of medical supplies by air this week.
He said two earlier batches of donations were sent to the country in the previous weeks.
No more transmission
Sta. Romana said the Chinese government has already effectively stopped local transmission of Covid-19 in Wuhan, which was once known as the epicenter of the pandemic illness, by placing the city and its surrounding areas under lockdown for two months.
Aside from the lockdown, other factors which allowed China to contain its Covid-19 cases were the early detection and isolation of patients suspected to be afflicted with the illness, he said.
Last Saturday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. already announced the intention of the Chinese government to send some of its medical experts.
He said the Chinese doctors can be deployed in local hospitals to help in managing Covid-19 patients.
Contradicting statements
However, Locsin initially alleged the arrival of the team is being blocked by the Department of Health (DOH).
Health Undersecretary Rosetta Vergeire belied this, saying they have official documents proving that DOH have even communicated to the Chinese embassy requesting that they send their medical experts who have experience in handling the Covid health crisis.
“We want them to share their expertise because in their country they were able to reduce the number of [Covid] cases and fatalities because of this. So we want to learn from them,” Vergeire said.
OFW aid
Sta. Romana also reported that no Filipino in mainland China has been affected by the outbreak of Covid-19 cases there.
However, he noted some overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in China are now faced with “economic problems” they are now either under a “no work, no pay” arrangement or are being underpaid by their employers due to business disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Sta. Romana said some undocumented Filipino household service workers (HSW) were displaced because of the health crisis and have sought the assistance of the Philippine embassy as well as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Most of the OFWs in China are teachers, musicians or hotel workers, and HSWs.