For a few days, the number of positive cases for Covid-19 in France has increased slightly. This slight epidemic rebound is favored by a social context more conducive to the circulation of the virus: back to school and work and lower temperatures. and the virus particularly common in children.
At the beginning of the school year, the Ministry of National Education and the unions decided that the health protocol in schools would be set at the “base” level, that is, the lowest level of measures. It is this protocol that is still in force today.
No closing of classes
This level of measurement implies that classes are face-to-face, that the mask is not mandatory and that there are no restrictions on physical activities or the mixing of students.
What happens when a student tests positive in a class? According to the ministry’s protocol, this child must be isolated and therefore not taken to school, and this for seven days, five if an antigen or PCR test is performed and is negative.
However, for students over 12 years of age who do not have a complete vaccination schedule, the rules are slightly different: in case of a positive test, the isolation period is ten days, seven if the new test is negative in this moment.
Therefore, classes do not close, even if one or more positive cases of Covid-19 are detected.
Sick child leave in case of isolation
If a student tests positive in your child’s class and therefore your child is in contact, the procedure is as follows. Classes continue in person and a self-test must be carried out two days after learning of the positive case. The self-test can be obtained free of charge at a pharmacy upon presentation of the letter provided by the school.
If this self-test is positive, it must be confirmed with a PCR test. So the isolation period is the same as described above for an infected student. The Ministry of National Education specifies that children infected less than two months ago do not need to be tested if they are contact cases, except if they present symptoms.
If your child must be isolated and you cannot telecommute, it is possible to take sick leave to care for them. “This leave is open to any employee caring for a child under the age of 16 who is ill or injured and for whom they are responsible,” the public service site notes.
Source: BFM TV
