About 2,000 surgical masks were stolen from the Conception Hospital in Marseille, in the midst of a health crisis linked to the new coronavirus, the Public Assistance - Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM) told AFP on Tuesday.
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The boxes of stolen masks were stored at the central block of the public hospital, access to which is reserved for authorized health personnel and operated patients, said the AP-HM, confirming information from La Provence. " The AP-HM immediately launched an internal investigation to find the perpetrator (s )," added management. The police, contacted by AFP, were not seized of any complaint.
The AP-HM distributed an internal note to all the personnel of the block " to remind that the use of these masks is strictly reserved for professional exercise ".
After this flight, instructions were disseminated throughout the AP-HM "to secure stocks (masks, alcohol-based solutions) and to prevent such incidents from happening again."
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The public assistance wanted to be reassuring, indicating that " the remaining stock was sufficient to ensure the activity of the block and (that) new orders had been placed for a rapid replenishment ".
Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron announced that the French State would requisition "all stocks and the production of protective masks" to distribute them to carers and people with coronavirus. The strategic reserves of protective masks are estimated at 160 million masks, 10% of which have been destocked.