Philippine gov't approves visit of 12-member medical team from China

The Philippine government has approved the visit a 12-member medical team from China to assist Filipinos in combating the COVID-19 threat.

In a virtual press conference on Saturday, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Karlo Nograles said, "The IATF authorizes the technical visit of 12 medical experts from the People’s Republic of China, who will assist government efforts in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines subject to ratification by the Office of the President.” 

China on Thursday announced it was sending a 12-member medical team to Manila on Sunday. 

The main task of the medical experts team is to help the Philippines fight  COVID-19, by providing technical advice on epidemic prevention and control as well as sharing medical treatment experience, a Chinese Embassy statement said.

Members of the Chinese medical team are:

1. Mr. Zheng Huiwen Director-General Level Executive Official accompanying the Delegation
2. Mr. Weng Shangeng Vice President, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (FAHFMU)
3. Ms. Cai Xiaoying Deputy Director Level Executive Official accompanying the Delegation
4. Mr. Zhuo Huichang Associate Chief Physician, Critical Care Medicine, FAHFMU
5. Mr. Xiao Xiongjian Physician-in-Charge, Critical Care Medicine, FAHFMU
6. Ms. Li Hongru Associate Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital (FPH)
7. Mr. He Jinyi Nurse, Hospital Infection Management Department, FPH
8. Ms. Ye Ling Chief Physician, Clinical Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (respiratory), Fujian People’s Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (FPHAFUTCM)
9. Mr. Lin Guoqing Associate Chief Physician, Internal medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, FPHAFUTCM
10. Ms. Hou Yangqing Nurse-in-Charge, Critical Care Medicine, FPHAFUTCM
11. Ms. Wu Bingshan Deputy Director Technician, Microbiology Laboratory, Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (FPCDCP)
12. Mr. Cai Shaojian Associate Chief Physician, Infectious Disease Control, FPCDCP

As of Saturday, the Philippines has so far reported 3,018 confirmed cases, with 136 deaths and 52 recoveries. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMANews