Baotou-produced special ambulances boost virus control

The first batch of two especially made anti-epidemic negative pressure ambulances produced by Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group were officially delivered to Baotou -- in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Feb 12 -- to help with novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control, according to a report in the Baotou Evening News.

Local officials said the two ambulances, also known as NPAs, will be sent to hospitals in the city.

The medical cabin of NPA is equipped with an on-board negative pressure system. By using advanced technology, the interior air pressure in the cabin is lower than the outside atmospheric pressure.

As a result, the air can only flow in from the outside of the NPA and the incoming air is sterilized and then discharged out of the car.

At the same time, the negative pressure medical cabin in the NPA forms a fixed circulating air area and the treated air flows from the clean area to the infected, or the patient's area.

These air flows greatly reduce the probability of cross-infection of medical personnel when treating and transferring infected patients.

Officials said that the production of another two NPAs is currently under way at Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group. The two NPAs are expected to be delivered in three to five days.