- At the dawn of the deconfinement, the Minister of the Armies Florence Parly affirms to have put in place the necessary measures to ensure the defense of the country while respecting basic health precautions against the coronavirus.
- The Minister wishes to build on the conclusions of the investigation into the coronavirus epidemic on board the Charles-de-Gaulle to protect soldiers while on the job.
- These findings will be presented to parliamentarians next week.
While an epidemic of coronavirus has hit the crew of the Charles de Gaulle , which has become a floating cluster in a few days, the Minister of the Armed Forces finds herself, at the dawn of deconfinement, faced with a thorny question. How to reconcile defense of the country and health protection of the soldiers who contribute to it? Questioned by 20 Minutes , Florence Parly hopes to be able to rely on the results of the investigations into the epidemic on board the aircraft carrier, which she will present to Parliament next week, to solve this difficult equation. It discusses the challenges of deconfinement within the armed forces and draws up an assessment of Operation Resilience.
Before addressing the issue of coronavirus, we learn that a legionnaire engaged in Operation Barkhane died on Monday. It is the second in a few days. What's your reaction ?
France has lost two of its children. I want to salute their courage, they went after their engagement. These two legionaries come from the same regiment, the 1st foreign regiment of cavalry, which is badly tested today and where I will go in the next days. It is a terribly painful ordeal for their families, relatives and brothers in arms. This test shows us that the Covid has not paused the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. I cannot end this question without having a thought for the other soldiers that we have lost in recent days: two soldiers from the army, one from the air force and one from the army health service have died recently in training during helicopter exercises. I respectfully bow to their selflessness and their determination.
Deconfinement is looming, in the armies as elsewhere. What are your priorities, as Minister of the Armed Forces?
We are actively preparing to be ready on May 11, if this date is confirmed, with two golden rules: preserving the health of our staff and adapting our organization to continue our missions, most of which have never stopped. The plan of the Ministry of the Armed Forces is strictly within the framework set by the Prime Minister. Barrier measures must continue to be implemented, including rules for physical distance when possible in the units. We also decline organizational measures to strengthen telework. Finally, for all civilian and military personnel and their families, the army health service, in addition to its many other missions, will continue its teleconsultations.
We are also preparing to resume activities that we had given up. I am thinking in particular of recruitments, which had stopped since March. We will therefore reopen the recruiting centers next week. The armies recruit 26,000 people each year. Each month that passes without recruitment, the equivalent of an army regiment is missing!
One thing that we have not given up on, however, is the pursuit of arms programs. Last week, for example, we started sea trials of the new generation nuclear attack submarine Suffren . It is an operation that was carried out in compliance with very exceptional hygiene rules.
Regarding masks and tests, what is the policy of the Ministry of the Armed Forces for deconfinement?
Regarding masks, we had already established their compulsory wearing in certain circumstances or activities. We will now be able to have access to masks for the general public, which will be widely distributed in the ministry's premises. Beyond the cases where the wearing of the mask will be compulsory, such as in public transport, the objective is that anyone who wishes to wear a mask for the general public in the professional context can do so.
For the tests, the aim is, in accordance with national objectives, to break the possible chains of contamination. Anyone who presents symptoms will have to report to his superior and will have the choice of being taken care of by his attending physician or by the army health service, available to carry out virological tests, called "PCR". If the person is sick, he will then be placed in solitary confinement, preferably at home. As for the people who would have been in contact with the one identified as sick, they will be placed in their fortnight and systematically screened.
On the masks, did you have the opportunity to build up the necessary stock?
Masks for the general public were ordered to be able to distribute them widely, knowing that we have contributed to testing the textiles used to make them. The NRBC laboratory of the French defense procurement agency (DGA) has tested thousands of samples submitted by textile manufacturers to determine their breathability, filtering and washing capacities. Regarding surgical masks, the Ministry of the Armed Forces had from the start of the epidemic a strategic stock of masks to equip the army health service.
The coronavirus epidemic has not spared the armed forces, with 1,500 confirmed cases. On the "Charles-de Gaulle", nearly two thirds of the crew, or 1,046 sailors out of 1,760, were contaminated. Today, 20 are still sick, and two are hospitalized, one of whom is in intensive care. What is the status of the crew contamination investigations?
The first survey, of an epidemiological nature, is intended to collect the maximum amount of health information to try to understand the process by which the virus circulated within the aircraft carrier. The objective is to be able to disseminate the results of this survey to the entire scientific and medical community in order to advance our understanding of this epidemic and how to fight it.
There is also a command investigation by the French Navy. It is supplemented by an inspection which is conducted under the authority of the Chief of the Defense Staff. We need to know what orders were given, what the understanding and the situational awareness were when these decisions were made.
I have indicated that the findings of these inquiries will be made public. I should be able to present them next week before the National Defense committees of the National Assembly and the Senate. We will not leave any gray area. Any. The objective is first to understand, then to learn all the lessons in order to best protect the crews of the French Navy. We must take all appropriate measures before having Charles-de-Gaulle reappear .
Was the stopover in Brest, the weekend of March 14, which possibly caused contamination of the crew on board, a reckless act?
The stopover runway at Brest is one of the plausible runways with regard to the contamination of the Charles-de-Gaulle crew . It must be remembered, however, that when the crew called at Brest, there was no confinement in our country. Consequently, this stopover, which was scheduled for logistical reasons, did not present any contraindication in the sense of prohibition.
The President of the Republic had however spoken on Thursday evening March 12, just before the stopover, announcing the closure of the schools the following Monday, which suggested a complex health situation…
Yes, the president had announced the closure of the schools. When we announce the closure of schools, we are not announcing containment. This was announced on March 16 to take effect on the 17th. At that time, the aircraft carrier had left Brest. The reason we are investigating is precisely to be able to put into perspective what decisions have been made and how they have been implemented. Now what matters is that the sailors can go home healed. We have organized ourselves in this direction.
Could these investigations therefore lead to sanctions?
The primary purpose of the investigations is to understand how things went in the face of a virus that is still very little known. First, I am waiting for the conclusions of the investigation to be presented to me. Until I have his conclusions, I cannot answer this question.
On what criteria will you authorize a return to the sea of "Charles-de-Gaulle"? What deadline?
What will be decisive is the state of health of the crew. We are not going to send the Charles-de-Gaulle back to operation if the crew is not in perfect health. A technical shutdown was planned for a long time in the coming weeks. And of course, this technical maintenance and repair stop must take place. The objective is that it can be carried out in compliance with health rules.
How to enforce social distancing aboard the "Charles-de-Gaulle"?
We are not there yet. This is precisely one of the objectives of the surveys that are underway: to come up with recommendations, in order to allow use in accordance with all health rules, when the aircraft carrier leaves for operation.
What conclusions do you draw from the military operation Resilience, launched by the President of the Republic in March 2020 in order to fight against the epidemic of coronavirus?
The armies responded. In particular, we have carried out numerous medical evacuations, including to Austria, Germany and Luxembourg. The army health service has installed a field hospital in Mulhouse. During this crisis, we tested means that we had never used before. They have, I believe, done a service to all those who were fighting this virus, both patients and caregivers. More than 2,000 Covid-19 patients have been hospitalized in our eight military hospitals, including 400 in intensive care. The commitment of the health service has been absolutely remarkable, I want to underline it.
The Resilience operation also concerns logistics. We have transported sanitary equipment, masks or medicines which we have, in some cases, secured and stored on our premises before their distribution. We have also had to respond to requests from prefects or ARS to supply Ehpad, for example.
Thus, the armies responded positively each time they were called upon, including less usual requests which we have, thanks to our capacity for adaptation, been able to satisfy. During the period of deconfinement, Operation Resilience will face needs no doubt a little different from those to which we have responded until today, but we are ready to evolve our response.
July 14 is looming. What are the options being studied for the traditional parade on the Champs-Elysées?
It is still too early to talk about it. We are currently preparing for deconfinement. When this is implemented, we will make various proposals to the President of the Republic to find an appropriate and relevant way to celebrate the National Day. Consider what the health situation might be at that time, hence the need to have several possible options.
Closer to home, what is the plan for the national commemoration of May 8 at the Arc de Triomphe?
This ceremony will always be broadcast live, but it will indeed be held in a particular context, since there will be no audience. In addition, the presence of Place de l'Etoile will be limited to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, a few personalities and high military authorities. This May 8 will be quite unique. This is why the President of the Republic asked all our compatriots who wish to join this commemoration by decorating their balconies with national colors.
Society
Coronavirus on the "Charles de Gaulle": There was "no transgression", according to General François Lecointre
Health
VIDEO. Coronavirus on the "Charles de Gaulle": No symptoms reported at the stopover in Brest
- Society
- Coronavirus
- Deconfinement
- Health
- Charles de gaulle
- Florence Parly
- Army
- Air Force
- Navy