Brazil says China will help ensure medical supplies for coronavirus

Brazil's Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said he spoke to China's ambassador to Brazil on Tuesday and the embassy will help ensure fulfillment of Chinese medical supplies to fight coronavirus.

Mandetta told reporters that Brazil faces a "serious problem" when it comes to availability of ventilators as confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus rose to 13,717 in the country, with deaths rising to 667, the first time fatalities have exceeded 100 in 24 hours.

He said last week that China had canceled some Brazilian equipment orders when the U.S. government sent more than 20 cargo planes to the country to buy the same products.