Donetsk, Mar 31 - DAN. The Donetsk People’s Republic Healthcare Ministry is closely cooperating with Russian specialists in the prevention of COVID-19, DRR Healthcare Minister Olga Dolgoshapko said at a press briefing in Donetsk on Tuesday.

“We (the DPR Healthcare Ministry - eds Donetsk News Agency) have close cooperation with Russia’s Heath Ministry and the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor),” Dolgoshapko said.  “We use the experience of our Russian colleagues, their methods and latest updates on the problem. On Sunday, we got new recommendations from the Russian Health Ministry which urged to change certain medications for others".

On March 19, Russia sent to the DPR a new batch of COVID-19 tests kits, she added.

On March 14, the DPR went on high alert in connection with the threat of the coronavirus infection. The DPR has no recorded COVID-19 cases.

Ukraine and Russia have reported an increase in the number of the infected. Latest reports said that there were some 800,000 COVID-19 cases across the world; some 38,700 people have died. The countries with the largest COVID-19 death toll are Italy, Spain and the United States.*jk