Along with the United States, Europe continues to be one of the global epicenters of the Coronavirus infections and deaths.The death toll in Europe is now at 93,000. It is now known that the early Coronavirus (Covid19) infections in New York City, Lagos and Nairobi were spread by Europe not China. China is taking most of the criticism for the spread of Covid19 which is justified given the government's hesitation to rely the severity of the virus to government around the world. France, one of the major E.U. and NATO member, isn't far behind the two Southern European countries. France's cases at 108, 864 and deaths are at 17, 900. The good news is the 32, 804 people have since recovered in France. The French media and pundits have been remaining the public nonstop to stay at home through the slogan Tous a la maison.
The virus has not limited itself to attacking the French public, it has also turned its sights on the French military just as the U.S. military carrier USS Roosevelt's captain and sailors were infected by Covid19. France's only air craft carrier Charles De Gualle, returning from training in Portugal as part after its months long Middle East (read Syria) deployment reported to that 668 sailors out of 1,767 aboard the De Gaulle tested positive for Covid19 to the shock of the government already drained by the lockdown and reducing the infection rates. The carrier was first quarantine after fears of possible infection cases were reported on April 8th. The remaining 1,300 sailors remain in isolation aboard Charle De Gaulle carrier in the port of Toulon, in Southern France. It is the second known aircraft carrier to be infected by Covid19 after the American USS Roosevelt. Prior to the Covid19 infection, De Gaulle carrier was sent to the Middle East ie Syria in January of this year. Former Brigadier General and geostrategist François Chauvancy (featured below) originally analyzed the role of the De Gaulle and the French role in Syria. Keep in mind France wasn't invited to aid Syria by the government. It was most likely a clandestine mission under the NATO alliance. Now as the universe would have it, De Gaulle has to cut its Middle East mission short due to Covid19. The mission was supposed to last from Janaury to April 2020. There are also two American sailors who have also tested positive aboard the De Gaulle. Is this what is meant by roosting chickens? The De Gaulle had also served in Afghanistan before Syria. NATO has been scrambling since the Covid19 Pandemic began in Wuhan and jumped to Europe. Update now the remaining 1,000 sailors have the Coronavirus. NATO Secretary General have since declared Coronavirus to be a security threat to the NATO members.
NATO scramble for medical supplies and Covid19
The virus is collapsing economically and politically, the world's hegemonic empire the United States. Most Americans would disagree that the country is on its way out as the major world power. Trump has made . However, the virus has not only further weakened and overwhelmed American healthcare, it has hurt the economy and has pyscology damaged society. A global Great Depression even worst than the 1933 Depression is on its way. Germany is already in a recession although that fact has not been reported significantly by the mainstream pundits. The U.S. was accused of piracy on April 3rd for snatching up some 200,000 medical masks headed to its NATO allies Canada, Germany and France. Germany and Italy have also been racing to buy up more critical ventilators as their respective stockpiles are in limited supply too. Although France along with Germany does manufacture some ventalitors and masks, the French are also in need of additional equipment. China has sent supplies to France in response to its confinement. The Canadian province of Ontario perhaps foresaw the current pandemic since it stockpiled on medical masks during the SARS pandemic. Canada too is having to do inventory of its supplies. As been said before, the U.S. has depleted its national stockpile of medical supplies including masks and ventilators in need by its states. What is amazing is that the American stockpile had an embarrassingly low limited supply in the first place. Companies such as GM and small businesses are trying to replenish the masks, needed ventilators, medical garments as quickly as the items are needed by patients and hospitals. In February another NATO member Australia also reviewed its national stockpile of medical equipment as Covid19 was spreading throughout Asia. Keep in mind most of the world's medical supply is manufactured in China. The scramble has not gone unnoticed by China at all. It too had stockpiled supplies. The scramble is affecting the accessibility for the ordinary people. In Italy and Spain, doctors and nurses have been using snorkeling gear as ventilation masks.Nevertheless, the Western countries have been hit the most by the virus. Europe has some of the highest deaths and cases in the world. Spain and Italy still lead with the highest number of cases and deaths at 40,000 together. Even with testing, the infections will continue albeit slowly compared to the U.S. even with France having one of the strictest national lockdown laws in the world alongside Italy. The French locked down has been extended to May 11th according to the French Academy of Medicine. People are being fined for going out for non essential reasons. The French President Emmanuel Macron, once the golden boy of the politics has been heavily criticized by the public for his handling of Coronavirus. Pollution across Europe has dropped by 45% since the Coronavirus lockdown went into affect.
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