It is the French department most affected by the coronavirus epidemic, with 18 cases out of the 57 recorded in metropolitan France, including twelve for Friday alone. The Oise finds itself on Saturday under the surveillance of the authorities, and more particularly the Creil air military base, where six members of the personnel are affected.

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Despite himself, the Oise finds itself in the spotlight. Department most affected for the moment by the epidemic of coronavirus, with 18 of the 57 cases listed on the territory, it is also that from which comes the first French victim, a teacher who had contracted Covid-19. In search of the patient zero, all eyes are turned to Creil, and more particularly to its military air base. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation on the site, where six cases of coronavirus (three soldiers and three civilians from the administration, one of whom is still hospitalized in Amiens) have been diagnosed among the staff.

Military "avoid contact"

If this base is at the center of many questions, it is because it shelters the teams which repatriated the French from Wuhan in China. Inside, "there is no more concern than that," said one of the soldiers who works there, on condition of anonymity. "We are really waiting for the measures that our leaders could give us." Measures have also been taken to try to stem the phenomenon. "We don't shake hands, we don't kiss each other, we avoid all contact," said the soldier.

"We try to keep a certain distance when we speak to avoid any contamination," he adds. And these are just a few examples. Staff also attend an information meeting each morning, and people who may have symptoms of the virus should go to a doctor.

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According to information from Europe 1, those responsible for the base, which shelters more than 2,500 people, are preparing for partial containment, possibly from Monday. Clearly, all staff who do not have a vital or strategic mission on the site, could be invited to stay at their home. It is still only conditional, but in downtown Creil, this decision is eagerly awaited by some residents.

"Putting all the assets on the side of health"

"It is a good thing to confine the base so that the virus is less easily spread," confirms a Creillois met on Saturday morning. "Usually, the soldiers go out, come to do their shopping in the city. You have to put all the assets on the side of health", he calls for his wishes. But in the Creil shops on Saturday noon, we are far from psychosis. There are a lot of people on the streets. The locals do their shopping in peace. One trader even said "have a great day" right now.