A new book compiled by celebrity doctor Zhang Hongwen and his Shanghai team of experts in the treatment of novel coronavirus cases was published, and will offer free copyrights to virus-hit countries, including Italy, Iran and Spain.

"COVID-19: From Basics to Clinical Practice" details the epidemiological characteristics of the novel coronavirus disease, latest treatment options, research progress on antiviral drugs, advances in immunology and vaccines, and how to carry out personal protection and infection control in medical institutions.

The book also includes more than 20 anti-coronavirus diaries written by Zhang during the epidemic, some of which drew over 1 million views after being published on WeChat, to reflect the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 in a more comprehensive presentation and the expert's deep thinking over the epidemic.

"As medical workers working on the front line against COVID-19, we feel obliged to sort out all the achievements made in the global campaign against COVID-19," said Zhang, the book's chief compiler. He is also the leader of the Shanghai team of experts in the treatment of novel coronavirus cases, and director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Shanghai Huashan Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University.

"This battle against the emerging infectious disease requires global cooperation and mutual assistance, and the experience and research accumulated across the global need to be shared in real time," Zhang added.

The team authorized the book's copyright to Fudan University Press for free, and the publisher is currently contacting overseas publishers and looking for translators.

A recruitment advertisement published by Fudan University Press on its WeChat account said, "We urgently need voluntary translators who excel in Italian, Persian, Spanish, English, French, German and other languages. Would you like to have a try?"

The translators selected will have the book's signature rights, but will not earn a translation fee due to its free copyright.

(Cover image: Zhang Hongwen. /China News Service)