Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu approved an order for 30,000 air conditioners for hospitals on Friday, as France faces an exceptional heatwave affecting two-thirds of the country.
France is enduring on Friday a heatwave of intensity comparable to that of 2003. Fifty departments remain under red alert on Saturday and 35 under orange alert, according to Météo-France.
Sébastien Lecornu made the decision on the proposal of Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. The purchase is part of a 100 million euro plan to equip the most exposed health facilities.
The Île-de-France regional health agency has triggered a white plan in all hospitals in the region to cope with the increase in calls and emergency room visits. Cancellations of sports and cultural events have also been decided, including the Solidays festival and the Pride march in Paris.
The toll of drownings stands at 55 since the start of the episode, and the Health Ministry is concerned about a rise in deaths at home.
