Zhou Hua, a Quzhou native, departs for Milan, Italy to help local medical workers fight against COIVD-19, or novel coronavirus pneumonia, on March 18. [Photo/qz96811.com]

Zhou Hua, a Quzhou native, departed for Milan, Italy along with 11 other medical experts from Zhejiang to help the Italians fight against COVID-19, or novel coronavirus pneumonia, on March 18, local media reported.

Zhou is an assistant chief physician of the respiratory medicine department at the First Affiliated Hospital of the College of Medicine of Zhejiang University.

"Our hospital is experienced in treating the novel disease and our skills will be helpful to Italian medical workers," said Zhou in a telephone interview before his departure, adding that Italy offered strong support for China during its fight against the epidemic.

The medical group is among the first of its kind to be dispatched by the Chinese government to Italy.

It consists of 12 experts in critical care medicine, respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, and laboratory medicine from the First Affiliated Hospital of the College of Medicine of Zhejiang University, the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province.

After arriving in Milan, they will offer their expertise in treating NCP to local medical workers and advise them on how to prevent, control, and treat the illness.

They will also offer medical services and assistance to local Chinese ambassadors, consuls, staff members of Chinese-funded companies, overseas Chinese students, and overseas Chinese.

The latest report by the World Health Organization showed that as of March 17, 97,996 confirmed cases (including 11,487 new cases) and 4,195 deaths (462 new deaths) had been reported outside the Chinese mainland.

Eight countries and regions had recently reported their first confirmed cases, including Benin, Liberia, Tanzania, Bahamas, and Somalia.

As of March 17, Italy had reported 31,506 confirmed cases, 2,503 deaths, 2,941 recoveries, and 2,060 intensive care cases.