Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces An-124-100 Ruslan with means of assistance to combat the coronavirus infection COVID-19 flew to the USA. This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov announced the upcoming dispatch of assistance to the United States. On the evening of March 31, he said that the board with the help for the United States would fly out soon.

“Today, during the day, technical coordination was carried out and preparations for the departure of a flight from Russia, which is expected to fly before the end of the current day,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

According to him, US President Donald Trump gratefully accepted help from Russia.

He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin, offering US assistance, is guided by the fact that when American manufacturers of medical equipment gain momentum, "they will also be able to reciprocate if necessary."

Peskov emphasized that when the situation affects everyone without exception and is of a global nature, there is no alternative to acting together.

On March 31, White House head Donald Trump held a briefing on the distribution of COVID-19. He said the coming two weeks would be painful for the country in the wake of the pandemic.

“I want every American to be ready for the hard days that await us ahead. We have two very difficult weeks ahead of us, ”Trump said.

Trump added: “Then, I hope, as experts predict, and I think we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it will be very painful, very, very painful two weeks. "

According to the American University of John Hopkins, in the United States there are more than 185 thousand cases of COVID-19. More than 4 thousand people died from the consequences of coronavirus infection in the country, which exceeds the rates of China, the first country to face a massive spread of the disease. In China, the number of coronavirus victims is about 3.3 thousand people.

According to Reuters sources, the US authorities have almost exhausted the supply of personal protective equipment suitable for use in the context of a coronavirus pandemic. We are talking about masks, respirators and bathrobes.

Earlier, an employee of one of the New York hospitals told in an interview with RT about the shortage of supplies from medical workers.

The White House also presented a forecast of the potential mortality of Americans from a pandemic. According to analysts, from the effects of COVID-19, even with the observance of isolation measures, from 100 thousand to 240 thousand Americans can die.

In turn, without any measures to prevent the spread of the disease, mortality can reach from 1.5 to 2.2 million people, the report said.

Worldwide distribution of COVID-19

According to Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 860 thousand cases of COVID-19 worldwide. Following the leading in the number of cases of the United States are Italy with an indicator of more than 105 thousand infected and Spain, where the virus was found in at least 95 thousand people. China has shifted to fourth place in this indicator.

The most difficult situation in the world in the number of deaths amid the total number of cases is observed in Italy, where almost 12.5 thousand people died from the effects of the coronavirus. At the end of March, the Russian leadership decided to help this country.

So, on March 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone discussed with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte the fight against coronavirus infection COVID-19. On the same day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave instructions on the creation of an air group for the prompt delivery of Italian assistance in the fight against coronavirus infection COVID-19.

Subsequently, at least 15 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces with military doctors and medical equipment went to Italy.

To date, Russian specialists continue to work in Italy. According to the latest information, the medical and nursing teams from the Russian Federation, together with their Italian colleagues, began to equip the hospital in Bergamo, which will receive patients with coronavirus.

The hospital is expected to begin work in late April. The institution will have teams of Russian and Italian doctors.