The EU Commission chief said Wednesday that China will send Europe 50,000 coronavirus testing kits and two million surgical masks, as the continent battles to contain the pandemic.

In a phone conversation, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China was also ready to provide 200,000 respirator masks for more serious cases, Ursula von der Leyen said in a video statement.

"We are ramping up our production, we are converting our production lines, but this needs several weeks, and in the meantime we are grateful for the support from China," she said.

"China has not forgotten that in January, when China was the centre of the virus outbreak, the EU helped," she underlined.

Separately, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's e-commerce giant Alibaba has donated more than a million masks to EU members France and Spain, both hard hit by the virus.

The donation comes a day after the European Union sealed its borders, barring travellers from outside the bloc from arriving for 30 days to try to slow the rapid spread of the virus.

Europe has now recorded 3,437 deaths -- including 2,503 in Italy -- leapfrogging Asia's 3,384 fatalities, most in China.

Czechs fly-in 150,000 rapid virus tests from China
Prague (AFP) March 18, 2020 - The Czech Republic has flown in 150,000 rapid novel coronavirus tests from China for use in large hospitals as well as by police, firefighters and soldiers, officials said on Wednesday.

"The army special with 150,000 rapid tests is here!", Interior Minister Jan Hamacek tweeted, confirming the shipment aboard a military plane had arrived in Prague on Wednesday.

The tests take only 20-25 minutes to determine the presence of the virus with a high degree of probability, compared to six hours required by ordinary tests, according to the health ministry.

"Checked and loaded. We're transporting them (tests) for further distribution to places where these rapid coronavirus tests are needed," tweeted the Czech army, captioning a picture of military transport trucks carrying the tests.

The Czech Republic, a European Union country of 10.7 million people, has registered 464 confirmed cases of the virus, including three cured patients, and no deaths.

It is planning to fly in further tests and medical equipment from China.

Also on Wednesday, the Czech government banned citizens from leaving their homes without wearing a mask as of midnight.

It has also banned people under 65 years old from visiting shops between 0900 and 1100 GMT, reserving that time for pensioners who are at high risk from the virus.

On the same day, neighbouring Poland said China had promised to donate 10,000 tests, 20,000 face masks, 5,000 overalls as well as thousands of gloves and protective glasses.

Poland reported 251 confirmed coronavirus cases and five deaths on Wednesday morning.

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