- The discovery of three Charles-de-Gaulle sailors positive for the coronavirus comes two months after an epidemic on board which had affected more than a thousand sailors. Besides, two of the three new cases were already positive last April.
- The maritime prefecture ensures that there is no second wave and that it has taken a drastic set of measures.
Is history repeating itself? New cases of coronavirus were detected among the sailors of the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle , two months after an epidemic on board which had affected more than a thousand sailors. The spokesperson for the Mediterranean maritime prefecture, Captain Christine Ribbe, takes stock for 20 minutes
How many Charles-de-Gaulle sailors have so far tested positive for Covid-19?
Last Friday, a sailor was going to get his serological test result, carried out following the first epidemic of coronavirus, when the military doctor noticed that he was showing symptoms of Covid-19. Doctors do not think that he contracted the disease on board, but rather outside, given his journey. We then carried out an in-depth study by redoing its timetable to find the contact cases. We have compiled a list of around 30 people. Another sailor tested positive. But he is a sailor who was already positive last April, and one can be positive with the PCR test several months after being contagious. For this sailor, we also carried out an epidemiological study to list the possible contact cases. And this Thursday morning, we detected a third case of coronavirus. But this sailor had also been positive last April.
What measures have you put in place since the discovery of these new cases?
We have cleaned the boat well where the sick sailor detected this weekend has passed. Since June 2, we have also been operating as a planking. Each plank works six hours straight, without crossing paths. As a reminder, the Charles-de-Gaulle has been the subject of a technical stopover since June 6. Seafarers must complete a health questionnaire every morning. They wear a mask. The places of conviviality have been closed. We have reduced the number of sailors per room to four, and we are working to further reduce this number. The detected cases of coronavirus as well as the contact cases were placed either in isolation for a fortnight or at home. We sometimes take more drastic measures than in the civilian sector.
Do you fear a new epidemic?
At this stage, no epidemic is identified. We remain cautious, we do not pretend that we are stronger than anything. But we have implemented a huge number of means and procedures. You have to keep it right. There is no reason to think that we are here facing a second wave.
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- Army
- Toulon
- epidemic
- Navy
- Coronavirus
- Charles de Gaulle