Coronavirus: France steps up production of respirators and masks

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

During a visit to a mask manufacturing plant on Tuesday March 31, Head of State Emmanuel Macron announced that 10,000 respirators will be delivered to hospitals by mid-May. He also indicated that the production of masks would be greatly increased.

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Four major French industrial groups are joining forces with the aim of manufacturing “ by mid-May 10,000 respirators ” to equip hospitals overwhelmed by severe cases of patients contaminated by the coronavirus.

Emmanuel Macron said that the consortium, led by Air Liquide, also brought together the specialist in electrical equipment Schneider Electric, the automotive supplier Valeo and the car manufacturer PSA (Peugeot, Citroën).

Reach 14,000 beds in intensive care

The consortium will produce heavy respirators to equip the additional beds announced by the Minister of Health Olivier Véran last week. Thus, France will be able to reach the capacity of around 14,000 intensive care beds on the national territory. Before this health crisis, it was 5,000 beds.

The respirators will be assembled in the Air Liquide Medical Systems factory in Antony (Hauts-de-Seine). Since the start of the crisis, Air Liquide has already expanded its assembly line to increase its production of resuscitation ventilators and non-invasive ventilators for home health.

Produce more masks on the territory

This Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron also called for a reconstruction of " our national and European sovereignty " after the coronavirus crisis, hoping that France will acquire its " full independence " in terms of protective masks " by the end of the year ”. The head of state insisted on the national productive effort to equip himself in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. " At the end of April we will be more than 10 million " of masks made in France per week and " we will continue this effort, " he said.

The increase in production in the four French mask companies will bring the national effort from 15 million to 40 million units per month during April.

But the needs for nursing staff and nursing homes are estimated at 40 million per week, said the Elysee. While the Covid-19 epidemic continues to claim victims every day, the police and gendarmes also continue to deplore the absence of protective masks to carry out containment checks across the territory.

France was forced to import more than a billion masks mainly from China and has already placed " additional orders ". In order to honor the orders of the State " in drugs, respirators and masks ", " a specific allocation of four billion euros " was allocated to Public Health France, according to the Head of State who was in trip to a mask production plant in Maine-et-Loire.

The time for transparency will come

Asked about the short-sighted critics facing the executive, Emmanuel Macron said that when one " leads a battle, one must be united to win it " . And to add: " And I think that all those who are already seeking to sue, when we have not won the war, are irresponsible. "

Several complaints have been filed, either with the Court of Justice of the Republic when they relate to ministers, or with prosecutors, in particular for " endangering the life of others ". " The time will come for complete transparency ," said the head of state.

► Read also: The French government urged for transparency in its fight against the coronavirus

Among the first to react, the number one of the Insoumis, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, tweeted: “ Aaahhh he is beginning to understand. Relocation of productions! Another effort! Planning and requisitions are the effective modern solution. "

Aaahhh he begins to understand. Relocation of productions! Another effort! Planning and requisitions are the effective modern solution. # Macron #Coronavirus # Covid19

(With AFP)

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• France
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine