France is mobilizing high-speed trains, helicopters, jets and even a warship to relieve congested hospitals and shuffle hundreds of patients and medical personnel in and out of coronavirus hot spots.
The high-speed train whooshing past historic World War I battle sites and through the chateau-speckled Loire Valley carried a delicate cargo: 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients and the breathing machines helping keep them alive.
But the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the world-renowned state hospital system after decades of cost cuts. When Macron visited a Paris hospital on the front lines of the virus battle, an angry neurologist challenged him to reinvest massively.“When it was about saving Notre Dame, many were moved,” Dr. Francois Salachas said, a reference to the Paris cathedral that was severely damaged by fire a year ago, prompting immediate, massive pledges of public and private funds for reconstruction.
In mid-March, as COVID-19 was ravaging neighboring Italy, France went ahead with the first round of nationwide municipal elections. First lady Brigitte Macron strolled the banks of the Seine, which were crowded with Parisians enjoying a sunny day despite recommendations of social distancing. “The question of masks is now the priority question for the French,” said Jean-Daniel Levy of polling agency Harris Interactive, adding that the public feels the government “didn’t take enough responsibility” for it at the outset.
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