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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 2,000 fast test kits donated by China arrive in Manila

2,000 fast test kits donated by China arrive in Manila

Published Mar 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Gabriela Baron The first batch of 2000 fast test kits for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) donated by the Chinese Embassy and the China Mammoth Foundation has arrived at Manila in a bid to help the Philippines fight the virus. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian assured that China is ready to provide more test kits in the coming days. "(This) virus (knows) no boundary and humanity knows no nationality. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and the Philippines have been supporting and helping each other, demonstrating a profound friendship between close neighbors, friends, and brothers," the Embassy said in a statement. Widely-used in China, the China BGI Group-developed high-tech fast test kits have the capability to issue results in three hours. The kits have also been exported to over 50 countries including Japan, Thailand, Brunei, Egypt, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates. The Embassy added that President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have exchanged letters, expressing strong solidarity. China also sent medical supplies, including masks and respirators to Italy and Spain to help the European countries deal with their growing coronavirus crisis. Italy is now the worst-affected nation in the world after China with at least 24,747 cases and over 1,800 deaths. Spain reported on Sunday about 2,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths over the last 24 hours, raising its number of COVID-19 infections to 7,753 and its death toll to 288.
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