Highlights from white paper on China's fight against COVID-19 (4)

An employee checks N95 medical protective masks at a factory in Chongqing, Southwest China, on Feb 17, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

China offers help to 150 countries, 4 int'l organizations to fight COVID-19

China had sent 29 medical expert teams to 27 countries and offered assistance to 150 countries and four international organizations as of May 31.

China has provided two batches of cash support totaling $50 million to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It also assisted the WHO in purchasing personal protective equipment and establishing reserve centers of supplies in China, and helped its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to raise funds in the country.

Local governments, enterprises, non-governmental organizations and individuals in China have donated materials to more than 150 countries and regions, and international organizations through various channels.

China exports protective materials to 200 countries, regions

China exported protective materials to 200 countries and regions from March 1 to May 31 to help them fight against COVID-19.

China's growing exports have provided strong support for the prevention and control efforts of affected countries.

The exports included more than 70.6 billion masks, 340 million protective suits, 115 million pairs of goggles, 96,700 ventilators, 225 million test kits, and 40.29 million infrared thermometers.

China has taken effective measures to control product quality, regulate export procedures, issue guidelines on foreign market access, and strengthen market and export quality supervision.

China to increase support for Africa's fight against COVID-19

The assistance includes sending the most urgent medical supplies, conducting cooperation on medical technologies, and dispatching more medical expert teams and task forces.

China has already sent medical supplies to over 50 African countries and the African Union, and dispatched seven medical expert teams to the continent.

China CDC informs US of COVID-19 on Jan 4

The head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention informed his US counterpart of COVID-19 at least as early as Jan 4.

"On January 4, the head of China CDC held a telephone conversation with the director of the US CDC."

The communication came a day after the health authorities in the city of Wuhan issued Information Circular on Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Cause, reporting a total of 44 cases.

From Jan 3, on a regular basis, China began to update the World Health Organization, relevant countries, and regional organizations, as well as its own regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, on the development of the disease.