Health Minister Roberto Speranza
said Thursday he had told EU counterparts at a coronavirus
meeting requested by Italy not to underestimate the risks posed
by the deadly epidemic.
"I asked to keep very high the level of attention and not to
underestimate the risks," he said after the meeting.
"I asked for a strong and coordinated response from Europe".
He said the EU should fight the spread of the Covid 19 virus
both on the continent and worldwide.
Particular attention should be paid to "the most fragile
health systems", he said, like those in Africa.
Prevention is paramount because once the spread of the virus
reaches significant numbers its management "becomes very
complicated", Speranza said.
Twenty Chinese tourists who were part of a group including
two who tested positive for the coronavirus were discharged from
Rome's Spallanzani Hospital on Thursday.
They were in quarantine for 14 days and had always tested
negative for the deadly virus.
They included five minors.
Lazio health councillor Alessio D'Amato and the hospital's
health director Francesco Vaia said goodbye to the tourists.
They will take a flight back to China.
"It is an extraordinary day for my co-nationals who have
ended their quarantine in this hospital," said Doctor Zhang of
the Chinese embassy.
"They are very happy.
"They are very well, they are content.
"I want to thank the Spallanzani and our Italian friends who
have given their support to the embassy," he added.
"The services rendered to my co-nationals were excellent and
professional, exceptional, and they met their particular
customs.
"Now they will go straight back to China with an airline
flight".
Zhang called for an end to attacks on Chinese people in
Italy amid the coronavirus emergency.
"Panic is spreading in the Chinese community," said Doctor
Zhang of the embassy, accompanying 20 Chines tourists who have
left Rome's Spallanzani Hospital.
"(The panic) is not because of the coronavirus epidemic, but
for security.
"There have been attacks on Chinese in Italy, not tourists,
but the Chinese community.
"I would like to urge our Italian friends to pay attention to
the safety and security of our co-nationals who are living and
working in Italy, to avoid prejudices, distinctions, and
aggressions.
"Insults and threats are not tolerable.
"That is the appeal I want to issue".
Rome's Spallanzani Hospital said Wednesday that the general
condition of an Italian man it is treating with the coronavirus
is good, adding that he does not have fever.
The young man was among a group of 56 people flown back to
Italy last week from the Chinese city Wuhan, the epicentre of
the deadly epidemic.
The Spallanzani is also treating a Chinese couple with the
coronavirus in its intensive-care department.
The hospital, which specialises in infectious diseases, said
the couple's condition was stable after reporting a slight
improvement on Tuesday.
The tourists came to Rome from Milan via Verona and Parma.
The hospital said that it had tested 20 people who came into
contact with the couple and the results were all negative.
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