Two weeks ago, as Italy emerged as the new epicentre of the pandemic, China
sent its first team of medical experts and tonnes of desperately needed supplies to the country. That was as the situation appeared to be easing in China, where an outbreak of the new respiratory virus was first reported in Wuhan in December. Other countries have also offered help to those badly affected by the crisis. German hospitals this week said they were taking in critically ill Covid-19 patients from Italy and France.