EU medical teams deployed to Italy
Photo Romanian coronavirus team
(ITALY) - A team of European doctors and nurses from Romania and Norway was despatched Tuesday via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Milan and Bergamo to help Italian medical staff battling the coronavirus.
Austria has also offered over 3,000 litres of disinfectant to Italy via the Mechanism. The Commission will coordinate and co-finance this European assistance.
"These nurses and doctors, who left their homes to help their colleagues in other Member States are the true faces of European solidarity," said Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
"I thank Romania, Norway and Austria for coming to Italy's support in a time that is so difficult for the whole continent," added Janez Lenarcic, the Commissioner for Crisis Management. He said the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre was working 24/7 with all EU Member States to make sure help is channelled to where it's most needed.
The EU's Copernicus satellite system has also been activated by Italy to map health facilities as well as public spaces during the coronavirus emergency.
Yesterday Italy also received a delivery of personal protective equipment coordinated through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre. Several EU Member States have also sent protective equipment such as masks, overalls and ventilators to Italy, as well taking Italian patients for treatment in their countries.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centreis the heart of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and coordinates the delivery of assistance to disaster stricken countries, such as relief items, expertise, civil protection teams and specialised equipment. The centre ensures the rapid deployment of emergency support and acts as a coordination hub between all EU Member States and the 6 additional Participating States, the affected country, and civil protection and humanitarian experts.