Date Published: 17/03/2020
ARCHIVED - China sends medical supplies and coronavirus experts to Spain
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
The Chinese are better equipped than most to offer practical advice on combating Covid-19
While the number of coronavirus cases in Spain continues to mushroom it is worth remembering that the latest data available from China proves that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it is encouraging to learn that the Chinese are taking steps to help alleviate the current situation in Europe.
On Monday the number of new cases reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan dipped into single figures for the first time in many weeks, and here in Spain, with the epidemic spreading and intensifying, Chinese residents are making an effort to contribute to the efforts to combat Covid-19. Examples like the one in Cartagena at the weekend, when thousands of facemasks and protective gloves were donated by Chinese businesses to the local police, are being repeated all over Spain, and at a national level a shipment of medical supplies is on its way from Beijing to Spain following an agreement reached on Monday between the Foreign Affairs Minister Arancha González Laya and her counterpart in China, Wang Yi.
As well as medical products China is sending a team of medical specialists to contribute their knowledge and experience to the efforts in Spain, following a similar collaboration agreement which was reached between China and Italy during the weekend: that resulted in the sending of 30 tons of supplies and a team of 9 coronavirus containment experts.
It is worth remembering how the Chinese community in Spain were initially held to blame for the coronavirus by many uninformed members of the public, and that they were even made scapegoats by leading political figures such as Javier Ortega Smith of the Vox party. Sr Ortega Smith made a reference to “damned Chinese viruses” before he himself tested positive, and it is a relief to read that the Chinese Foreign Minister realizes how “Spain opposes the stigma attached to Covid-19 and appreciates the contributions made by Chinese people living in Spain to the prevention of the epidemic”.
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What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus
The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.
The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to just one per patient.
Sensible precautions
The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:
- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell
- Don´t panic!
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