While the United Kingdom is experiencing a spreading epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, East China's Shandong province has offered a helping hand by sending an expert team, sharing its experience and supplying aid.

A 15-member working group from the province departed from the Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport on the morning of March 28.

This is the first time that Shandong has sent an aid team to support a foreign country in coping with the virus.

The team will provide vital information and training in protective measures that could be critical to the safety of doctors and nurses who are most exposed to the virus. They will also provide technical support to UK in judging the epidemic situation and offer China's experience and strategies in epidemic prevention and control to health departments in the country to contain the spread of the epidemic.

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, went to the airport to see the team off.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UK had risen to 14,590 by March 28 at 3:27 pm Beijing time. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 27 became the first major world leader to test positive for the coronavirus.

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, delivers a speech during the send-off at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. [Photo/dzwww.com]

A working team from Shandong province sets out for the United Kingdom on March 28 to help contain the novel coronavirus pandemic. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The working team members pose for a photo at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The Shandong team is going to join the United Kingdom in the fight against the virus. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The working team members pose for a photo at the airport. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The working group from Shandong province departs from the Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport on the morning of March 28. [Photo/dzwww.com]