Edouard Philippe said on Saturday that "40 prototypes" of masks were currently "being tested" in order to increase production capacities, in the midst of a controversy over the stocks and supplies of these protections against the coronavirus.
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"We have asked the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Defense to find alternatives, either to multiply the production chains, or to qualify alternatives, disposable or reusable," the Prime Minister said in a statement. opening the examination of the emergency bill to the Assembly. "40 prototypes are being tested, for surgical masks as for FFP2" (offering better protection, note), said Edouard Philippe.
Manufacturers requested "from February"
While the Minister of Health Olivier Véran must hold a press conference on Saturday at 3 p.m. on the question of the availability of these masks, Edouard Philippe defended the management of the government in the matter. "With regard to masks, as of February, the four main French manufacturers of masks used by the health world were asked to greatly increase their production rates," he said. "On March 3 (...) I signed a decree to requisition the stocks and production capacities of anti-splash masks and FFP2," he added.
At the same time, "a destocking", coming from the state reserves, "of about 25 million masks was operated in early March". "Thanks to requisitions, despite this destocking, the stock was able to be maintained at 105 million masks as of March 16. This week of March 16, 29 million masks are distributed to professionals," he added.