France aircraft carrier has 50 coronavirus cases

This photo provided Saturday, April 10, 2020, by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) shows sailors wearing face masks aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, Thursday, April 8, 2020, in the Atlantic Ocean. France’s only aircraft carrier has confirmed 50 cases of the new virus aboard and is heading back to port. Three of those aboard the Charles de Gaulle with the virus have been flown to French hospitals for treatment, the French military said in a statement Friday. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Y. Bisson/Marine Nationale via AP)

PARIS — France’s only aircraft carrier has confirmed 50 cases of the virus aboard and is heading back to port.

The French military said three of those aboard the Charles de Gaulle with the virus have been flown to a French hospital for treatment. Medics were staying aboard to track the infections and prevent further spread among the 1,700 crew after 50 of the 66 tests were positive.

U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt experienced a similar outbreak, leading to a major controversy after its captain was fired.

Amid suspicions of an outbreak aboard the Charles de Gaulle, a medical team equipped with tests was flown to the French aircraft carrier on Wednesday while it was on a mission in the Atlantic Ocean.