Russian hospitals, facing the spread of the new coronavirus as well as shortages of protective equipment, are in turn receiving Decathlon diving masks, already used as respiratory masks in Europe. The branch of the French sports equipment group in Russia told AFP that it had “blocked” the sales of the 6,000 masks present in its approximately 60 Russian shops and that it was distributing them free of charge to hospitals that request them.
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Russia breaks new infection records every day for a total of 27,938 sick and 232 dead. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged "shortages" of protective equipment for medical workers on Monday and said Russia had not yet reached the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic.
The entire Decathlon stock will be distributed by the middle of next week, the boss of the group in Russia, Jeremy Angelard, told AFP a decision made because the company saw these masks at the top of its sales in line and arrive requests for medical personnel.
These masks, sterilized and modified, can be used as a mask on a respirator for the sick or as protection for caregivers. In Europe, tens of thousands of them have served as an interim solution for intensive care patients. In Russia, adapters are produced by 3D printing by doctors themselves or on a voluntary basis by start-ups.
"Depending on what you print on a 3D printer, they can be used both as personal protective equipment and as a respiratory mask," Vadim Sizov, head of the anesthesia department at Ilyinsky Hospital, told AFP. Moscow, which receives patients from Covid-19.
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He claims to have started using them for staff, realizing that they may lack protective equipment, and then started using them for patients. "It is better than nothing," he said in a telephone interview, "It is a good option, if there is no other. They protect very well. The people who used it are in good health. ”
"And in the regions, in terms of protection, the situation will be very bad, so it can be a good way to get out of it," added the doctor.
