Members of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team prepare to board a helicopter in Vientiane, Laos, April 7, 2020. The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have gone to northern and southern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Champassak, to join the local governments and medical workers to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)
The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have been cooperating with local governments and medical staff in fighting against the COVID-19, after arriving in Laos' southern and northern hubs of Pakse and Luang Prabang on Tuesday.
After arrival, the Chinese medical teams handed over anti-epidemic materials, donated by China, to the local governments, deputy team leader Shi Tongchuan told Xinhua Wednesday.
The Chinese experts have held discussions with the local governments and medical staff, and visited back-up hospitals and designated hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, looking into local medical institutions' establishment, personnel and material arrangement, and process management.
Based on the investigation, the Chinese experts have shared their experiences on COVID-19 prevention and control, discussed in depth with the Lao side on diagnosis and treatment plan, Chinese medical treatment and other aspects.
The Chinese experts also conducted on-site inspections at centralized isolation zones and Lao-Thai border.
They offered detailed suggestions on the epidemiological investigation, close contact management, management of returning overseas citizens, sampling and testing scope, personal protection of medical staff, health information, disinfection, among others, and raised issues for improvement on problems in isolation zone management.
Laos detected its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24, and only in five days, the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team arrived in capital Vientiane on March 29.
The Chinese medical team includes experts in various fields such as infection prevention and control, intensive care, epidemics, and laboratory testing. They also brought along medical treatment, protective supplies and a batch of Chinese and Western medicines.
Lao Health Ministry announced at its daily press conference that the country has detected 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
A member of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team (1st R) looks into a local hospital's situation on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment in northern Lao's Luang Prabang, April 7, 2020. The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have gone to northern and southern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Champassak, to join the local governments and medical workers to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)
Members of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team look into a local hospital's situation on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment in southern Lao's Champassak province, April 7, 2020. The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have gone to northern and southern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Champassak, to join the local governments and medical workers to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)
A member of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team (1st R) looks into a local hospital's situation on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment in southern Lao's Champassak province, April 7, 2020. The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have gone to northern and southern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Champassak, to join the local governments and medical workers to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)
A member (C) of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team looks into a local hospital's situation on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment in northern Lao's Luang Prabang, April 7, 2020. The Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team, divided into two groups, have gone to northern and southern Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Champassak, to join the local governments and medical workers to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)