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Entering its fourth working week, the team of Chinese medical experts dispatched here to help Serbia tackle its COVID-19 crisis has visited seven cities and over 20 medical institutions, covering most of the COVID-19 hotspots in the country.
"We have a busy schedule. We get up at 6 every morning and return to where we stay around 7 or 8 p.m. With a report to finish, we usually get to rest late at night." Long Qisui, an epidemiologist from the team, told Xinhua on Saturday.
The team, which came from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, comprises epidemiologists, respiratory disease and emergency medicine specialists, as well as a clinical psychologist.
They came to help "out of international humanitarianism and the 'steel-like' friendship between China and Serbia. I think it is a very meaningful thing," said Guo Yubiao, a respiratory disease expert on the team.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
Since their arrival on March 21, the experts have held several seminars with local officials and doctors, sharing their experience in efficiently tracing the source of infection, early treatment of patients, and strengthening triage at outpatient clinics.
More than five weeks have passed since Serbia reported its first case on March 6, and "generally speaking, the fifth and sixth weeks are the most critical time," said Lin Bingliang, an epidemiologist on the team.
During this period of time, the number of cases will slowly increase and the death toll will also climb, mounting pressure on the health care system, Lin said, repeatedly stressing the importance of expanding tests.
"We have seen very big progress in this respect," said Lin, adding that Serbia's testing ability has reached more than 2,000 a day, a rapid increase from a dozen a few weeks ago.
The number of newly confirmed cases in Serbia has not risen as fast as the number of people tested every day, which is a good sign, said Lin.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Serbia reported 4,465 cases, with 94 deaths.
Serbia's rapid response, including expanding tests and building temporary hospitals, showed that the country attached importance to their suggestions and learned from China's experience to optimize its own epidemic prevention and control, said Peng Zhiqiang, head of the team.
Considering that makeshift hospitals are helpful to address the shortage of beds in hospitals, Serbian army on March 24 started to transform Belgrade Fair in the Serbian capital into a temporary hospital with 3,000 beds.
The dusk-to-dawn curfew currently imposed across Serbia has achieved good results in reducing the mobility and gathering of people, said Pen, who also praised the country's decision to shut down borders.
The experts suggested closely monitoring Serbian nationals who returned home before the closure of borders.
Around 400,000 Serbians from abroad will finish their self-quarantine at home.
"At first we find the enemy and dig the trenches. Now it's time to re-examine the previous work and fix the loopholes. After that we may be able to take the initiative to destroy the enemy," said Long.
WARM WELCOME
Facing a tight schedule and the challenges ahead, the Chinese experts said they were deeply moved by the Serbian people's trust in them.
On the night of their arrival, they received a warm welcome from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and local doctors.
Together with the team, the first batch of 16 tons of medical supplies donated by China, including ventilators, masks and protective gear, also arrived at Belgrade.
Vucic said in a welcome address that the Chinese experts' coming to help is of "immense importance to our country," and the medical aid is "life-saving."
"Thank you" is what they heard most during their stay in Serbia, the experts said, adding that patients often gave them a thumbs-up when they walked into the wards.
"Local people now can recognize our vehicle. One day in a traffic jam, they all gave way to our vehicle and smiled and waved to us in their cars." Long said.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo said in an earlier interview with Xinhua that the Serbian government sent emergency medical supplies to China when the coronavirus broke out, and organized concerts at home to show solidarity.
"The two countries are brothers through thick and thin, and have a friendship like iron and steel," she said.
China is a country that showed its best organization ability in the fight against the coronavirus crisis, said Marko Djuric, vice president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, adding that "we should always learn from the best."
