Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.

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JP Clatot / AFP

  • A scientific study carried out by the public private consortium Virpath and Virhealth has demonstrated the high efficiency of the purifiers installed in secondary schools in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes at the initiative of the Region.

  • Confirmed by the result of this study, the LR president of the region called for the generalization of these devices in all schools.

The devices, already present in high schools in the region, have been tested in a high security P3 laboratory.

The president (LR) of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Laurent Wauquiez on Monday demanded in Lyon a generalization of the installation of air purifiers in schools, after an initiative in this direction of his region had been validated by a independent scientific study.

Air purifiers equipped with high-performance HEPA-type filters have demonstrated a filtration capacity of the virus "of 99.9% in 20 minutes of use (10 air recirculation cycles)," said Monday in a press release. Virpath laboratory, co-directed by Prof. Bruno Lina, one of the government's scientific advisers in its fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.

Once trapped, the Covid particles become inert after 48 hours, which facilitates the maintenance of the devices, also determined the study made public by the region.

In October, Laurent Wauquiez mobilized 10 million euros to install air purifiers in schools and high schools in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes.

Installed in canteens as a priority

Of this envelope, 3.4 million euros have been consumed to date, making it possible to finance 2,407 devices.

This corresponds to an average cost of 1,400 euros per device.

Convinced of the relevance of his strategy to avoid an extension of the epidemic via the classrooms, the former boss of the Republicans released 184,000 euros to finance this study, carried out by the public-private consortium Virpath and Virhealth in a laboratory of high security (P3) of the Lyonbiopôle health competitiveness cluster.

According to him, it is the first of its kind in Europe.

"Following the presentation of these conclusions, this solution will be deployed in several public establishments in the region and thus offers a new weapon to limit the spread of the virus", rejoiced the two laboratories.

Laurent Wauquiez specified that, in his region, the air purifiers had been installed in priority in the canteens, "places of brewing where one is without mask, the open mouth".

According to him, an average of four or five of these devices is needed to equip a canteen.

He made this remark while the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer raised the possibility of closing school canteens to curb the spread of the virus.

Regretting that "so much time has been lost", while countries like Germany, Austria or Spain have bet on this technology, President LR demanded that "on the basis of this report which shows the 'indisputable usefulness of these tools, our country is finally embarking on air purification ”.

Especially, he noted, air purifiers could be part of the solution to reopen cafes, restaurants and theaters.

The filters tested in this study are manufactured in Cantal by the Swedish group Camfil.

The French leader in small household appliances Seb also produces its filters in France, said Laurent Wauquiez, while the availability on the French market of anti-Covid equipment has often weighed in the fight against the epidemic.

Health

Coronavirus: Indoor air purification, the key to reopening theaters?

Society

Coronavirus in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: To limit the spread of the virus, an air purifier in high schools has been tested

  • Lyon

  • Covid 19

  • High school

  • Laurent Wauquiez

  • Coronavirus

  • Society