Expert team sent to Italy to help with outbreak leaves Shanghai for Rome

An expert team sent by the Chinese government to help control the novel coronavirus outbreak in Italy left Shanghai for Rome on Thursday.

This is the third team sent by China to help control the COVID-19 outbreak in other countries, following Iraq and Iran.

The nine-member team, organized by the National Health Commission and the Red Cross Society of China, is headed by Sun Shuopeng, vice-president of the society.

The society said on Thursday that the team also carried a large number of medical rescue and protection materials with them.

Team members are from organizations that include the National Health Commission, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Sichuan University.

Earlier this week, the National Health Commission and the Red Cross Society of China had online exchanges with their Italian counterparts and the World Health Organization on COVID-19 control.