In recent weeks, the number of new COVID-19 infections and deaths reported in China has been declining. Meanwhile, infection cases are rapidly increasing in several other countries, with major outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Iran, and a growing case count in the U.S. 

With over 12,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Italy is now the worst-hit country outside China. Doctors at the center of the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy are struggling, desperately short-handed, to save a growing number of patients. Recently, they turned to doctors in Wuhan for advice.  

On Wednesday, ICU specialist in Wuhan, Peng Zhiyong, shared his COVID-19 treatment experience with Italian Doctor Enrico Storti, Director of the Emergency Department of ASST Hospital in Lodi, Italy, on a conference call. CGTN live streamed their communication to the world. 

Dr. Peng Zhiyong is the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) director at Wuhan University's Zhongnan Hospital, which has been battling the epidemic for two months. Dr. Peng has already shared his COVID-19 treatment experience with his Italian counterparts for several times, in the hope they could benefit from what he had learned.  

"In the early stage, they often asked me how to prepare the items for the COVID-19 outbreak in their areas. And how to manage their team in the ICU," Peng said. 

Italy's epicenter Lombardy, which has one of the best-resourced regional health systems in the country, has been facing a surge in acute cases.  

Peng noted that Italian doctors lack resources. "They asked me how to recruit physicians and nurses to the ICU," Peng added.

Before the two doctors discussed their experiences in fighting against COVID-19, Dr. Peng answered questions from netizens around the world during the CGTN livestream.  

Dr. Peng said that "based on the reports, the patients with hypertension are more likely to become severe cases, especially older people with hypertension."

China currently has the most knowledge of and experience with COVID-19 in the world. Chinese doctors have been battling the epidemic for two months across the country, and specifically in Wuhan city, where the disease emerged.  

Over the past weeks, Peng has received many emails and phone calls from doctors not just from Italy, but also from other European countries and the U.S. Peng said other doctors in Wuhan have received similar requests as global peers seek to tap into their experiences fighting their way out of Wuhan's coronavirus ordeal.  

(Cover image: Dr. Peng Zhiyong answeres questions of netizens around the world. /CGTN Photo)