VIENTIANE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team had paid a special visit to all the COVID-19 patients in the Lao capital Vientiane before returning to China on Sunday.

Lao Health Minister Bounkong Sihavong and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong went to the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane on Sunday to pay farewell to the returning Chinese experts.

Before going back to China, the Chinese medical experts visited the Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) on Saturday, where all the 19 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Vientiane were treated. The Chinese experts entered the wards to visit and encourage every patient there.

Also on Satuday, the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team inspected the procedure optimization in pre-examination and triage, fever clinic, laboratory, radiology, and intensive care unit in Mittaphab Hospital.

Somdy Douangdy, Lao deputy prime minister and chair of the Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, joined the Chinese experts for a meeting of the Lao epidemic prevention and control committee at the Lao Ministry of Health.

At the meeting, the Chinese team suggested that the Lao side improve medical preventive and protective materials' management, carry out quality monitoring for the donated supplies, as well as continue to reserve a certain amount of necessary protective equipment such as medical masks and protective clothing.

The expert team also went to the Lao National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology on Saturday to exchange views with the Lao laboratory technicians. They went to Wattay International Airport to check the implementation of prevention and control measures.

The Lao Health Ministry said at its daily press conference that the country has detected 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon.