Medical team from China arrives in PH to help in COVID-19 fight

MANILA - A team of medical experts from China arrived Sunday in the Philippines to help in the country's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said.

China sent 10 medical experts and 2 officials to "share technical advice on the prevention and control" of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

"The Chinese experts arrived with invaluable firsthand experiences to share on fighting and containing COVID-19. Thank you China,” Locsin said in a a tweet.

The Chinese team also brought with them masks, personal protective equipment and non-invasive ventilators, the DFA said.

Manila sought the help of Beijing on the pandemic after the economic giant saw a slowdown in its virus cases, the Department of Health earlier said.

China, where the new strain of virus originated, earlier sent protective gear and COVID-19 testing kits to the Philippines. 

As of Saturday, the Philippines has recorded 144 deaths out of 3,094 cases of COVID-19. Fifty-seven patients have so far recovered.