Officials from Guangxi and Shiyan held a video conference on Feb 22 to discuss further improving the novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control efforts in Shiyan, a city which Guangxi has launched a "pairing assistance" initiative to alleviate pressure in Hubei province, which has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus.

Lu Xinshe, Party secretary of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, extended sincere condolences to the people of Shiyan on behalf of the government and people of Guangxi at the video conference, adding that any other needs for the prevention and control of the epidemic in Shiyan in the future can be raised.

Guangxi holds a video conference with Shiyan on the improvement of novel coronavirus prevention and control efforts in Shiyan on Feb 22. [Photo by Huang Ke/gxnews.com.cn]

Lu emphasized that Guangxi's frontline headquarters in Shiyan should strengthen communication with relevant departments of Shiyan and organize medical teams to assist in the medical treatment, as well as the epidemic prevention and control efforts according to the requirements.

Chen Wu, the chairman of Guangxi, responded to the material needs raised at the conference. To date, Guangxi has sent a total of seven batches of medical teams totaling 914 medical personnel, issued seven chartered trains of fruits and vegetables, as well as donated a large number of living materials and various medical protection materials to Shiyan.

In the future, the region will continue to further increase support for medical supplies, such as negative pressure ambulances, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices, a type of artificial heart-lung machine, as well as medical protective clothing and masks.

Zhang Weiguo, Party secretary of Shiyan, Hubei province, gave an overview of the overall epidemic situation in Shiyan and thanked Guangxi for its support at the video conference. He said that Shiyan will spare great efforts to create good conditions for Guangxi's medical teams, as well as provide considerate living services and safety guarantees.