INTERVIEW
“There is concern about the virus, it’s normal,” concedes doctor Patrick Thomas, interviewed by Europe 1. “Me, my daily job is to reassure, because we must avoid that “we have a panic epidemic”, adds the doctor, head of the emergency medical service at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport (Aéroports de Paris). In the aftermath of a heightened concern over the virus, after the death of a first victim of French nationality and the spread of the Covid-19 in Italy, the doctor nevertheless wanted to be positive, evoking the reinsurance work carried out by the teams medical staff and travelers, Roissy.
“We have a strong experience of these moments of epidemic”
“More than sixty people pass through the medical service every day,” says Doctor Patrick Thomas. Seeking mainly advice and information, they are faced with a service “plastered with posters giving the right instructions”, adds the chief doctor.
If the latter recalls that it is up to the Ministry of Health to set the rules, he recalls that the plan put in place today is limited to information. “We have a strong experience of these moments of epidemic,” he said, referring in particular to Sras and Ebola. “The medical service has always faced these kinds of situations.”
Informative device
For direct flights arriving from China, Seoul and Singapore, travelers benefit from special treatment, with the Red Cross and the health reserve, says the doctor. The latter admits that his own team is not large enough given the number of passengers arriving daily (5,000 passengers per day at the start of the crisis, before certain airlines, such as Air France, suspend their Chinese flights).
As far as Italy is concerned, the system in place is the same as for all those arriving from risk zones in indirect flights (with stopovers), he continues. “The system set up by the Ministry of Health consists of putting in information devices with totems, and distributing flyers” on the instructions to be followed and precautionary measures to be observed: hand washing, wearing a mask .. .
“There is also road traffic, rail traffic …”
Should the teams be strengthened? “If there was a decision to be made, it is at the ministerial level that it must be done, not at my level,” says Doctor Patrick Thomas. “There are people arriving by plane, but there is also road traffic, rail traffic, and what is the most effective measure?” Asked the doctor. “It’s the information, and that’s what’s in place.”
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