Coronavirus: Russian aircraft carrying experts, Covid-19 supplies depart for Italy

Russia agreed to send supplies to help Italy, the country worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak

A Russian Ilyushin IL-76 transport aircraft is loaded for its flight to Italy. EPA

Two Russian military aircraft carrying a team of virologists, health specialists and equipment have departed for Italy, the country the worst hit by the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

According to Russian media the transport aircraft carrying military virologists, other doctors and supplies left Russian airspace on Sunday.

The Ministry of Defence in Moscow confirmed the equipment and specialists would arrive in at an Italian base to the southwest of Rome.

Russian support for Italy was pledged on Saturday after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The deal was finalised later by the countries’ two defence ministers.

In total, as many as nine IL-76 transport aircraft are expected to arrive in Italy, the country's La Stampa newspaper reported. The mission will include eight mobile medical teams along with medical equipment and aerosol disinfection trucks.

Several countries have offered their support to Rome as cases of the novel coronavirus surge in the country. Italy has confirmed more than 53,000 cases of the disease it causes, Covid-19, and more than 4,800 deaths.

Chinese specialist doctors and medical equipment have arrived in Italy ready to help tackle the sharp spike in people with the disease, which has overwhelmed medical facilities.

The doctors bring with them first-hand experience of dealing with the coronavirus, having previously helped to tackle the original outbreak in China’s Hubei province that killed more than 3,000 people. The rate of new cases in China has dwindled amid tough quarantine measures, while in Europe the outbreak continues to spread.

In the face of the mounting death toll in Italy, Mr Conte went on live TV to announce he was tightening the country’s lockdown and shutting down all factories except those providing essential goods and services.

“We are facing the most serious crisis that the country has experienced since World War Two,” Mr Conte told Italians during a midnight broadcast.

He said there was “no alternative” than to impose further restrictions. Scientists have argued that avoiding even one infection means scores more are prevented down the line.