They are the pride of the government, a standard that must be claimed, "a force for the young generation", in the words, this Thursday evening, of Olivier Véran.
In France, schools are open.
And they will not be closed immediately, announced the Minister of Health, despite "an acceleration of the epidemic" and a virtual containment for three new departments, bringing to nineteen the number of territories subject to stricter measures.
An "exception" on a worldwide scale: since the start of the health crisis, a year ago, French schools have been closed for less than ten weeks, against nearly a year in the United States, 25 weeks in the UK, almost 24 in Germany.
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"It is a decision of last resort that we want to avoid at all costs because we know that this would have very serious consequences on the development of children and on the daily life of parents", developed Olivier Véran, on the line of his counterpart of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, who insists that he wants to avoid "a generalized school dropout".
During the first confinement, 5 to 8% of the students had left the National Education radars.
A nightmare also for parents, forced to organize their professional life around childcare.
And yet: the virus is circulating in the playground.
According to the latest figures, 105 schools (+25 in one week) and 2962 classes (+944) are closed.
Less than 1% of structures nationwide, but the increase is dramatic.
And this, especially as the results of the saliva tests deployed in the courtyards for three weeks are underestimated, because incomplete: 20 to 25% of families refuse to submit their children, and many more in the second degree - where nasopharyngeal is preferred - where less than 20% of teens volunteer to be tested.
A denial of reality
In this context, voices are raised to demand confinement including schools.
For epidemiologist Dominique Costagliola, the current health protocol is no longer sufficient: "Schools must be closed, I do not see how we can continue on this path", she says, with supporting figures.
In two weeks, in Ile-de-France, the incidence rate among 0-9 year olds dropped from 129 to 275 and from 377 to 673 among 10-19 year olds while the maximum alert threshold is set at 250.
“From January, the arrival of the English variant changed the situation.
It would have been necessary to react at this moment, to establish half-gauges, to set up ventilation systems, to hire more personnel in the establishments before being at the foot of the wall ”, regrets the expert, who points out“ a denial Of what is going on at school.
Same story with the geneticist Axel Kahn.
"Some still do not dare to say it, but everyone knows it: schools and high schools are one of the main, if not the main, source of contamination today," he said. .
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VIDEO. Restrictions, school closures, vaccination ... Olivier Véran's announcements
But on the side of decision-makers, such a radical measure is not possible for the moment, even if the entourage of Jean-Michel Blanquer ensures that in case of necessity of a "real brake" on the virus, schools would be closed.
Including regionally, as in the Oise before the first confinement.
To avoid it, what levers are left?
"We will move towards reinforced health protocols, in addition to those already in place in schools," said Olivier Véran on Thursday.
Contacted, the Ministry of National Education does not yet specify the outlines, indicating that "the working meetings begin this Thursday evening".
Advance the vaccination of teachers?
What, for example, with the proposal of Valérie Pécresse, president (Libres!) Of the Île-de-France region, who suggests bringing the Easter school holidays forward by two weeks, to close schools from April 2?
"We must first verify the effectiveness of the measures in place," replied the Minister of Health, preferring to wait for the results of the territorialized confinement installed on March 20 - while ensuring that the measure "is not impossible" if the situation worsens.
The vaccination of teachers, announced "mid-end of April" by Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the week, can it be brought forward, as demanded for her part by Anne Hidalgo, the PS mayor of Paris?
"It seems complicated: we are at the end of March, the priority is to vaccinate the most vulnerable first," said Rue de Grenelle.
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Also on the table: self-tests.
A "real utility", according to the Ministry of Health, mainly for high school and university students, who could thus screen themselves in a continuous and repeated way in order to identify infections as quickly as possible.
At what deadline?
"Fast", we promise.
It's a matter of weeks.
The transition to hybrid colleges is also being considered, like the high schools of the 19 departments "in red". First the fourth and the third, but "we do not forbid anything for the little ones, according to the figures of the epidemic", we still indicate in the entourage of Jean-Michel Blanquer. And the canteens? The "weak link" according to the Minister of Education, because the mask falls by the dozen in the same room ... but "socially necessary". On a case-by-case basis, alternatives could be implemented, such as the distribution of packed lunches or the organization of meals outside if the weather permits.