Paris (AFP)
Faced with the shortage of masks, the government will maintain priority "for exposed personnel", said Saturday the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, while many professionals in the health sector complain about the lack of these equipments. protection against coronavirus.
"The masks were first distributed within the areas of active circulation of the virus because our choice has always been to give priority to the exposed personnel and to the areas which needed it most," assured the minister during a press point.
While the government has ordered "more than 250 million" masks, Mr. Véran detailed the "choices we have made for the distribution of masks in the next 15 days".
"Priority to the protection of health professionals, who have to take care of Covid-19 patients in town as well as in the hospital and we will also give priority to the protection of people who work with the elderly in nursing homes to preserve hospital capacities ", he noted, promising for the latter sector 500,000 masks per day.
He then listed the number of masks that will be allocated, profession by profession: 18 per week for city doctors or pharmacists, 9 for people carrying out assistance and home care activities and six for midwives. women for example.
For other professions that demand masks (law enforcement, distribution), the government will seek the opinion of the recently created Scientific Council on the epidemic, said Mr. Véran.
On the other hand, he reiterated the government's opposition to a generalized use, a position in line with that of the WHO and many experts.
The World Health Organization stresses in its "advice to the general public" that "if you are in good health, you should only use a mask if you are caring for a person suspected of being infected" with the new coronavirus.
Its use is however recommended for people with symptoms: "Wear a mask if you cough or sneeze".
The WHO also stresses that its wearing "is only effective if it is associated with frequent hand washing with an alcoholic solution or with water and soap", the barrier gestures recommended for all. Finally, she insisted that it was absolutely necessary to "use and dispose of it correctly", otherwise it would lose its usefulness.
© 2020 AFP