China News Agency, Paris, July 22 (Reporter Li Yang) The new crown virus continues to accelerate its spread in France, and the number of new confirmed cases in a single day has reached nearly 1,000. French Health Minister Vilan said on the 22nd local time that French officials will provide 40 million masks to the poor for free.
According to the epidemic data released by the French Ministry of Health on the evening of the 22nd, the number of newly confirmed cases in a single day has risen to 998 from the 584 in the previous day. There are still 122 cluster infection cases under investigation, of which 12 cluster infection cases were newly investigated in a single day. Although the number of hospitalized cases and severe cases is still declining, the decline has also slowed down significantly.
French Health Minister Vilan stated that French officials will provide 40 million masks to the poor for free. These masks can be washed and reused about 30 times. He said that about 7 million French people at the poverty line will be the beneficiaries.
Vilan revealed that the French government has signed a contract for the delivery of masks with the French postal agency. The French postal agency will be responsible for delivering these masks. Eligible people will receive the masks in the next few days.
Vilan also said that about 2 million weak French people will obtain masks through medical insurance, which can completely cover the cost of masks. He emphasized that the government will allow those who cannot afford the cost of masks to obtain masks.
From the 20th, French indoor public places began to compulsory wear masks, offenders will face a fine of 135 euros. The supply of masks has once again become the focus of attention from all walks of life. French President Macron has stated that French officials do not intend to provide free protective masks to all French people.
When talking about new coronavirus testing, Villan said that France currently conducts 400,000 tests a week. He admitted that there is a "blocking effect" because everyone wants to "test at the same location" before taking a vacation. He announced that a new law has been signed, authorizing laboratory technicians and more qualified professionals to collect samples to solve the problem of long waiting times for testing.
The French health department warned that with the advent of the French summer vacation, holiday travel, gatherings of relatives and friends and other activities may become factors that promote the re-epidemic of the new coronavirus. (Finish)