Russia is ready to help US combat coronavirus, if necessary - Ambassador

WASHINGTON, March 25. /TASS/. Russia is ready to help the United States in the fight against a new coronavirus, if necessary, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said in a statement that was released on Tuesday. "The speculation about the failure of our diagnostic system is unacceptable. Especially, from commentators who position themselves as experts in healthcare," the diplomat stressed. "Our test kits proved their high quality in China and Iran and were transferred to Italy," the Russian diplomat said "Ordinary Americans should know that Russia will be ready to help the United States too, if necessary," he added noting that Russia had has repeatedly offered assistance in extinguishing fires in California. The ambassador stresed that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat, which "requires a joint response." "The attempts [of some American media] to use the international emergency in the interests of particular political groups or for self-PR do not stand up to criticism," Antonov said. "We believe that the time has come to abandon the outdated bloc thinking and jointly deal with the challenges humanity is facing now." According to Johns Hopkins University, which makes calculations based on data from federal and local authorities, more than 55,000 cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in the United States, over 790 people died. Read more