France currently has a “mobilizable state stock” of around 1.3 billion masks (including 70% surgical masks) This, acquired and stored by the French Public Health agency, aims to “respond to serious health threats” In April 2009, at the time of the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, the state had in its reserves a billion surgical masks and 700 million FFP2. This number far exceeds that at the start of Covid-19, according to statements.