Covid in schools: a new study reassures (but encourages vigilance)

This Monday, the children and adolescents of zone C made their return to class, in the Paris region, in Toulouse or even Montpellier.

While the circulation of Covid-19 remains at a high level, a rather reassuring study has been published, signed by Professor Arnaud Fontanet of the Institut Pasteur.

According to his research, schools are not playing the role of amplifying the epidemic.

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Mild or no symptoms

The circulation of the virus in schools has raised many concerns and raised many questions.

Recently, outbreaks have been recorded in Israeli and Chilean schools.

However, the study by Professor Arnaud Fontanet published this weekend in the

reveals that these contaminations tend to be limited in part because children are 30 to 50% less susceptible to infection than adults.

Most of the time, they have no symptoms or mild symptoms when they are infected.

However, there is no question of denying the circulation of the virus in schools.

The challenge remains to be able to guard against the risks of super-propagation in the classes.

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The study nevertheless raises the problem of canteens and school transport, where contamination could be avoided.

While schools do not play a role in amplifying the epidemic, the closure of educational facilities should not be taboo in the event of unexpected outbreaks.

To minimize social risks, preference should be given to alternating between face-to-face education in middle and upper secondary schools and at a distance.

For primary schools, the goal is to delay the closure as much as possible, because the damage to children's schooling is the greatest.