From Reims to Lyon via Rennes, closures are increasing in universities or schools, where more and more students are testing positive for the coronavirus, often after private parties.

More than ten establishments are concerned.

The Ministry of Higher Education says it is considering new measures. 

The number of coronavirus cases is rising sharply in universities and schools.

On Monday, a dozen establishments had already been closed completely or partially.

The central school of Lyon or Sciences Po Reims, a branch of Sciences Po Paris, are for example closed until Friday, as is the IUT of Châtellerault of the University of Poitiers.

43 cases of Covid-19 have also been identified at the University of Rennes, in the 2nd and 3rd years of the health sectors.

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Contamination even before the start of the school year

At this stage, the Ministry of Higher Education refuses to communicate the exact number of closures.

"Even though some higher education establishments have not yet started their school year, already more than ten of them are faced with a very active circulation of the virus within them, leading them to temporarily suspend classes in face-to-face, "said Frédérique Vidal, the Minister of Higher Education, in a press release.

13 establishments concerned?

According to the student union Unef, contacted by AFP, 13 establishments are concerned: "Sciences Po Reims, the Ecole des mines de Nancy, the Ecole Centrale in Lyon, the ICAM in Toulouse, the University of Nantes in 2nd and 3rd year of medicine, Sciences Po Lille, the Catholic University of Lille, the IAE of Marseille, the University of Amiens, the University of Rennes I, the University of Nice, Poitiers and Bordeaux. "

At Sciences Po Lille, eight students fell ill during the pre-school year.

In almost all cases, the students seem to have infected themselves in a private setting, and not at all in a lecture hall.

Most had not yet made their comeback when they were infected.

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Student parties still prohibited

Student evenings, like integration weekends, are canceled.

But impossible to forbid friendly evenings to young people who, sometimes, have not been socialized for six months.

“I know how difficult the current context is for all of you, and especially for those who have been deprived of social ties due to Covid-19 in recent months. Alas, we can all be exposed. This is why I appeal to your collective commitment, to your individual responsibility, ”asked Frédérique Vidal.

The Ministry of Higher Education says it is considering measures.

At the Ministry of Health, the subject is being studied with the greatest vigilance, but it is not yet known whether there will be national guidelines.

For their part, the students are asking for free masks, which is already the case at Paris-I or at the Lille IEP.