The US Donates Italy $100M Medical Supplies to anti-COVID-19

US President Donald Trump announced on March 30 that he will donate nearly 100 million US dollars of medical supplies to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) Italy with severe pneumonia. If there is spare capacity, the United States will continue to donate its surplus materials to other countries.

The Italian government announced on the same day that it would continue the nation's "cities closure" measures until after Easter in mid-April. Some Italian medical experts believe that the new coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Italy may be nearing its peak. The inflection point will be ushered in.

【The United States pledged "surplus" materials]

Trump said at an anti-Covid-19 press conference on March 30 that he had just spoken with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to inform the other party that the United States was willing to provide about $ 100 million in domestic medical supplies.

Italy is currently the country with the highest number of deaths from the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia. Agence France-Presse reported that Trump did not specify the specific type or departure time of the materials, but only said that "materials needed for surgery, medicine and hospitals."

The White House issued a statement earlier that day, during a telephone conversation between Trump and Conte, "emphasized that the United States is committed to working with Italy and all American allies and partners in Europe to curb the spread of the New Coronavirus and allow all people in need to obtain Medical care. "

Trump also said at a press conference that the planes sent by the United States were loaded with personal protective equipment "in 51 different locations around the world", and the first cargo plane carrying materials had landed in the United States that morning. Ten American companies, including General Motors, are also stepping up production of ventilators. Once the amount of material obtained by the United States exceeds its own needs, it will try to send the surplus materials to countries such as France and Spain.

[Italian "closed city" cannot relax]

Italy Minister of Health Roberto Speranza issued a statement on the same day that, after consulting with the government's scientific adviser, it was decided to extend the national "closed city" measure to at least after Easter on April 12.

Reuters reported that the statement did not give a specific time for the extension of the "closure of the city" measure, saying that the government will later state in the bill. Italy announced the nation's "closing the city" earlier this month, and originally planned to lift the ban on April 3. Most shops, bars and restaurants are closed, and people must not leave home unless necessary.

Italian Prime Minister Conte told the Spanish newspaper “National newspaper” earlier that day that the “cities closure” measures that were close to three weeks “are indeed severe from an economic point of view”, but the easing of restrictions must be carried out in order to ensure the “ anti-Covid -19 "results. The new coronavirus (COVID-19), the country ’s most severe epidemic, Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana, also believes that the need to maintain "citadel" measures "we are on the right track".

According to the data released by the Italian Civil Defence Agency on the 30th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases across the country exceeded 100,000, but the number of newly diagnosed cases increased by 4,050 in a single day was the lowest since March 17, and 1590 single-day cured cases reached a new high. The number of newly diagnosed cases in Lombardy in a single day also declined for the first time after more than a month of continuous increase.

The deliberate deputy health minister, Pierre Paul Silieri, believes that the latest data show that Italy "the number of confirmed cases within 7 to 10 days" is expected to decline. The government ’s anti-epidemic adviser and director of the Institute of Higher Health, Silvio Brusaferro, also believes that the infection rate of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) may be nearing its peak. Signs of decline, but the situation is improving. "