French Navy Ship Reports 50 COVID-19 Cases

50 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported aboard French navy ship, Charles de Gaulle. The aircraft carrier has 1,760 personnel on board.

Parts of the ship have been put in lockdown and three sailors have been evacuated to a military hospital in Toulon, the French Ministry of Armed Forces reported.

A team of doctors boarded the ship Wednesday to carry out tests for COVID-19 infection, following the detection of suspicious symptoms among 40 crew members.

"While awaiting the early return of the aircraft carrier in Toulon, extra measures aimed at protecting the crew and containing the spread of the virus have been put in place," the Ministry added.

France has hitherto reported 117,749 cases of the coronavirus infection, with 12,210 deaths and 23,206 recoveries.

By Elene Dzebisashvili