Moscow, February 9 (RHC)-- Russia's Ministry of Emergencies sent Saturday an airplane with medicines and equipment to China to support local authorities in their fight against the coronavirus pneumonia.  The Russian envoy consists of a humanitarian aid shipment of 183 cubic meters, which weighs 23 tons and includes 2 million masks, as reported by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Previously, President Vladimir Putin hailed the strong efforts of the Chinese government against the coronavirus and expressed Russia's will to help Chinese people contain the viral outbreak.  "The Chinese leadership has made forceful and determined efforts to contain the viral outbreak. The Russian government is ready to provide any help to our Chinese friends at any time," he said.

On Saturday, China's National Health Commission reported that the death toll from the coronavirus reached 723, among whom is a 60-year-old U.S. citizen.  So far, Chinese doctors have recorded 27,657 possible cases of coronavirus pneumonia and diagnosed 34,621 cases of confirmed infection, of which 6,101 are in serious condition.

Since the outbreak began in mid-January, however, 2,064 patients recovered and were discharged.  On Saturday, it was also reported that five infected Britons entered France and are being treated in Paris.  All of them were in contact with another British citizen who returned from Singapore.  France has 11 cases of infected people, all of them after maintaining contact with an initial case.