The coronavirus epidemic is spreading in Val-d'Oise. The census established this Thursday evening by the regional health agency reports 12 people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the department, with an outbreak or cluster in Méry-sur-Oise.
In this commune of some 9,900 inhabitants, nine people are concerned, one of them in severe condition. “A link could be found between all these cases who live in a limited geographical area. Given the existence of this grouping of cases, an active circulation zone (cluster) of the Covid 19 has been identified ", indicate the regional health agency and the Val-d'Oise prefecture.
Wednesday evening, in this same city, a couple of pensioners had been counted as contaminated, probably by members of his family, come from Marseilles to visit him. The two elderly people were hospitalized in Pontoise. A dozen people had been in direct contact with them before their care.
Prohibited gatherings
In order to limit the risk of the virus spreading, the Val-d'Oise prefect, Amaury de Saint-Quentin, prohibits by any prefectural order gatherings of any kind in an enclosed environment (concerts, fairs, exhibitions, public meetings, cultural events or sports, worship service, etc.) until March 20, 2020 inclusive, as do school outings. On the other hand, schools and colleges remain open, as do extracurricular centers.
This Friday, a team from the ARS and medical teams from the Pontoise hospital, a benchmark establishment in the department, will visit the site. "The health investigation, which has brought out new cases, continues to identify potential other cases and the transmission circuit", explains the mayor (HE) Pierre Edouard Eon, who spent his afternoon in crisis meeting .
A case in Montmorency
Montmorency is also concerned since Thursday with the report of a contaminated man. He was hospitalized in Pontoise. His wife is said to be confined to her home. The mayor (LR) Michèle Berthy, informed Wednesday evening, had posters posted indicating the precautions to be followed in public places. At the same time, she called on the prefect of Val-d'Oise "to arrange for a meeting of mayors to be held, as has been done in other departments".
In louvres, a closed school
In Louvres, the Bouteillier school group, which totals around 400 kindergarten and elementary students, has been closed since this Thursday for fourteen days. It is the first in Ile-de-France. A decision by the authorities, "taken by prevention", following the return of positive coronavirus tests from two people from the same family attending this establishment, a student and one of his parents.
The news fell late Wednesday evening, seems to have circulated well. This Thursday morning, only thirty parents made the trip. And the vast majority to obtain information. "I am not particularly worried because it is like a big flu but I came to seek additional information", specifies a father of two children of 4 and 6 years.
To respond, representatives of the Regional Health Agency (ARS), National Education, the town hall or the Val-d'Oise prefecture were present. “We are there to explain the decision and reassure the families. Remember that this is a preventive measure, ”said Anne Carli, ARS departmental delegate. And the latter to announce that a health investigation is underway to trace the exact route and contacts of those infected.
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Precautions that parents understand. “It is important to protect children. You never know, even if you will have to organize yourself for work, ”says Aurélie, mother of two toddlers.
Virtual classes
A father worries about the continuation of classes. In terms of national education, we recall that "educational continuity" is already organized. “The school continues. Not in the walls, but with digital classes and virtual classes ”, specifies Hervé Cosnard, academic inspector of Val-d'Oise.
And to quote the Cned's “My class at home” platform, online course materials and exercises for classes from the large kindergarten to CM2 section; digital resources made available to teachers of small and medium sections, on the Eduscol site or even virtual classes.
VIDEO. Elderly people facing coronavirus