France: 2,000 sailors evacuated from aircraft carrier after dozens test positive for coronavirus

Several dozen coronavirus cases have been confirmed on the French Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) which arrived in its homeport Toulon on April 12. 

As informed by the French Ministry of Armed Forces, around 50 sailors tested positive for COVID-19.

Upon the ship’s arrival, nearly 2,000 sailors were placed in isolation for two weeks to limit the spread of the virus.

Deep cleaning and disinfection of the ship’s spaces are also ongoing.

Tous les marins seront placés en quarantaine, adaptée à la situation médicale et personnelle de chacun. Les mesures sont prises pour assurer leur arrivée en toute sécurité. L’objectif premier est la santé des marins et la protection de leurs proches et des concitoyens. pic.twitter.com/xmPPVOECmz

— Marine nationale (@MarineNationale) April 12, 2020

Last week, three sailors assigned to Charles de Gaulle were also evacuated by plane as a precautionary measure and transported to a hospital in France.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the aircraft carrier returned home earlier from the mission in the eastern Mediterranean and the North Sea which started in late January.

Naval Today Staff