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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider DOH in talks with Chinese embassy to bring in COVID-19 medical experts

DOH in talks with Chinese embassy to bring in COVID-19 medical experts

Published Mar 29, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera The Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday that it has already coordinated with the Chinese government to send its medical experts to the Philippines to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire (PNA / MANILA BULLETIN) Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire (PNA / MANILA BULLETIN) Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has been in talks with the Chinese embassy since March 19 regarding the matter. "Ito ay bunsod na rin ng ating obserbasyon na simula nung March 18, hindi na nakapagtala ng bagong kaso ng local transmission ang Wuhan sa China. Gusto rin natin ma-replicate ang kanilang nagawa upang masugpo natin ang COVID-19," Vergeire said in a press briefing. (This was borne of our observation that from March 18, no cases of local transmission in Wuhan, China have been recorded. We want to replicate their measures to beat COVID-19.] Vergeire said they are continuously coordinating with the Chinese government with the help of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. on Saturday appealed to the DOH to allow China to send its medical experts to the country. On his official Twitter account, Locsin wrote that he asked the help of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to send Chinese doctors. The Foreign Affairs chief said that interpreters will not be a problem since the Chinese doctors can be deployed to either Chinese General Hospital or to the Metropolitan Hospital Medical Center.
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