France: homemade masks are no longer allowed at school
A teacher wearing a mask in a classroom of a private school when it reopens in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, near Nantes, on May 12, 2020. REUTERS / Stephane Mahe
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
As of Monday, February 8, 2021, the only masks allowed at school will be surgical masks and category 1 masks, which filter 90% of particles.
To limit the risks of the spread of the English variant of the coronavirus, no more homemade masks will be accepted.
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This is another health measure, essential according to scientists.
Some schools have warned parents well in advance: “
Yes, we had a note from the teachers in the correspondence books.
"
But the information has not yet circulated to all families.
It did not reach the ears of Christophe, father of two little girls.
“
I didn't know
,” he admits
.
I heard that there were adaptations with the masks, but communication that is made at the school level.
"
However, from this Monday in France, all families will have to ensure to equip their children with authorized masks, especially surgical ones.
A measure that does not really please the first concerned: "
Well, I don't like it too much, it bothers a little
", says a child.
A new constraint for teachers
More expensive but more filtering, they should help reduce the spread of the English variant of the virus in schools.
Reason enough for Christophe: “
We have surgical masks at home but they are less popular with children.
But hey, we will adapt, anyway no choice.
We must unite to put an end to this crisis
”.
Teachers are also affected.
National Education has promised to provide them with two masks per day.
For Marianne, a school teacher in Valenton, in Val-de-Marne, control will be difficult and adds a new constraint that takes time on children's learning moments:
“
It's so complicated and restrictive to ask them to wear the correct mask all day on their mouth and nose.
The protocol already takes us so long with the change of mask after the meal
, the washing of hands.
If in addition, we become mask controllers, we will have even less time to exercise the true meaning of our profession.
"
Reaction from Marianne, teacher in Val-de-Marne
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