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Coronavirus pandemic

Italian region of Piedmont plans to ask for Russia’s help in fight against COVID-19

Piedmont has the third highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in Italy

© EPA-EFE/Igor Petyx

ROME, April 7. /TASS/. The regional council of Italy’s Piedmont has prepared an official address to Russian military experts asking for their help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, head of the "Brothers of Italy" parliamentary faction and member of the council Maurizio Marrone told TASS on Tuesday.

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"During such a difficult time, we consider any help necessary, including international aid. In a letter of the crisis committee supported by Piedmont’s regional advisor on civil security, we address Russia with a request to send one of the groups arriving from Russia within the "From Russia With Love" mission already working in Lombardy to our region, which has also suffered significantly due to the epidemic, in order to carry out disinfection of retirement homes," Marrone said in a statement. The request has been made and will be sent to Rome with the approval of Governor of Piedmont Alberto Cirio.

Piedmont has the third highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in Italy. The total number of those infected reaches nearly 13,000 people, and the number of deaths (1,251) surpasses the number of those recovered (1,128).

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.

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