PARIS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A consortium of four French industrial groups announced on Tuesday that it will produce 10,000 ventilators by mid-May to support French hospitals in their fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
"Air Liquide is coordinating a working group with Groupe PSA, Schneider Electric and Valeo to meet the French government's request to deliver a total of 10,000 ventilators in 50 days," Air Liquide said in a statement.
Ventilators -- mechanical breathing devices -- are crucial in the fight to save patients whose lungs are assailed by the novel coronavirus.
When the epidemic first hit in February, French hospitals had some 5,000 intensive care beds. By reorganizing and canceling non-essential operations, some 5,000 more beds were made available and the government has pledged to increase this number to 14,000 by April.
As of Monday, coronavirus infection cases totaled 44,550 in France, with 21,000 patients hospitalized, including 5,107 in intensive care. A total of 3,024 people have died and some 8,000 have recovered, according to the French Health Ministry.
