Schools: the Scientific Council recommends more screening to avoid class closures

Europe 1 with AFP 6:40 p.m., August 27, 2021

Tests for Covid-19 in primary schools should be more generalized and more regular than what is planned by the National Education, otherwise the start of the school year could be "very complex", with repeated closings of classes, according to the Scientific Council.

"In this unvaccinated population, the risk of intense circulation of the virus at the start of the school year is very high, and the rule of closing classes from the first case could make the reopening of the primary very complex, especially in the event of repeated closure" d 'the same class, warns the government council in an alert note.

A "bi-weekly screening" advocated

Also, he "regrets the abandonment of screening (generalized screening or better reactive screening of the class when a case is detected)" which would help achieve the objective "of keeping classes and schools open in order to preserve education. and children's mental health, "in the document submitted to the government on August 20, updated Wednesday and posted online Friday.

The Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, announced Thursday "a target of 600,000 weekly saliva tests" in primary schools, which welcome around 4 million students.

Based on a recent modeling study, the Council indicates that "a bi-weekly screening" with "a membership of 50% of the school population (...) would make it possible to keep the classes open if the children found infected are sent back to their home ".

Be careful with the health pass

"The studies carried out show that above 50%, there is a value to be screened on a regular basis", underlined Wednesday the president of the Scientific Council Jean-François Delfraissy, on France 2. "In adolescents, screening could also bring a significant benefit for the control of the epidemic, especially since it will be practiced in a partially vaccinated population (greater than 50%) and where the efforts to be made to control the circulation of the virus will in fact be less important, "according to the note.

In the same note, the advisory body also warns that the sanitary pass "should not be understood or implemented as absolute protection against contamination". It "does not exempt" from "respecting the barrier gestures as much as possible" such as distancing, ventilating the premises and wearing a mask, "in particular for people most at risk", he adds. .