France faces an industrial challenge. Emmanuel Macron visits Tuesday morning the mask factory of the SME Kolmi-Hopen on the outskirts of Angers (Maine-et-Loire), the largest of the four French producers, announced the Elysée, in full controversy over the lack of masks facing the coronavirus. The Head of State wants to "show the exceptional mobilization of our industry to meet the needs linked to the Covid-19 crisis," added the Elysée.
This FFP2 and surgical mask factory, located in Saint-Barthélémy d'Anjou, is now running 24 hours a day to increase its production after recruiting 35 fixed-term contracts. The increase in production in the four French mask companies will increase national production from 15 million to 40 million masks per month in April. But the needs for nursing staff and nursing homes are estimated at 40 million per week, said the Elysee.
To meet needs, France has ordered a billion masks and is organizing an "airlift" with China, the first shipment of 8.5 million masks arrived on Monday. A second delivery from China of 12 million masks is expected on Wednesday, the presidency said.
Manufacture of fabric masks launched
The executive recalls having also mobilized the strategic stock (117 million adult surgical masks) and requisitioned the four national producers so that they do not sell abroad.
A production of alternative masks, in fabric, has also been launched, to the tune of half a million per month, which can be used by certain professions in contact with the public, such as cashiers or the police, specifies the Élysée.
The doctrine of Emmanuel Macron and his government concerning masks remains for the time being that masks must be reserved in priority for nursing staff and nursing home staff, but that it is useless to generalize them to the whole population.
Many professions in contact with the public, such as cashiers, law enforcement, firefighters, prison staff but also workers demand masks, some unions calling to exercise a right of withdrawal for lack of adequate protection.
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- Health
- Covid 19
- Emmanuel Macron
- Coronavirus