MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. Russian and Italian medics have begun to receive and treat patients diagnozed with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at a field hospital in Bergamo, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service informed on Monday.
"As of April 6, Russian military doctors and their Italian colleagues are on call 24/7 to receive and treat patients diagnozed with the coronavirus infection at a field hospital in Bergamo. They will work in three shifts a day," the message informs.
Russian and Italian medical teams have already undergone training on how to treat coronavirus patients at a field hospital in Bergamo. Over 200 Italian and Russian specialists will work at the 142-bed field hospital.
Under the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on March 22-25, the Russian Defense Ministry sent 15 military jets to Italy that transported virologists, epidemiologists and the necessary equipment to the country. According to the ministry, the group includes specialists who directly took part in fighting outbreaks of African swine fever, as well as developing vaccines against Ebola and the plague. The planes also delivered mobile stations for aerosol disinfection of transport and territories and medical equipment.
Russian military experts have been stationed in the town of Bergamo (Lombardy), one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy with a record number of infections and deaths in the country.