France Covid: Schools warned to be alert to new variants
New variants of Covid could 鈥榓ffect young people more鈥� said the director general of health as schools reopen after Christmas today 鈥榓s planned鈥�
France鈥檚 director general of health has warned people to be 鈥渧ery alert in school settings鈥� as the new variants of Covid-19 could 鈥渁ffect young people more鈥�, he said, as schools go back as usual today.
National Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer yesterday that children and teenagers in France will go back to school, and college 鈥渁s planned鈥� today, but that Covid-19 tests would be 鈥渄eployed even more strongly鈥� in establishments, along with a 鈥渟trengthened health protocol鈥�.
He said: "Countries that have delayed [going back to school] are countries that are dealing with a particularly difficult epidemic situation, notably England. But in France, we will have a normal rentr茅e using a strengthened health protocol, which has proven itself. This protocol will continue to work."
He added: 鈥淲e are always capable of making adjustments in future if necessary. We are very attentive, and we are staying alert. But we can absolutely go back to school [as planned].鈥�
Mr Blanquer also said that Covid-19 tests would be stepped up, especially in lyc茅es; and that he believes teachers should be vaccinated 鈥渂y the month of March at the latest鈥�.
It comes after the two new variants of Covid-19 - one first identified in the UK, and another in South Africa - have been detected in France.
Director General of Health, J茅r么me Salomon, has said that these two new variants could affect young people more than the previous variant, and urged more caution in schools.
He told : 鈥淸These variants] are not necessarily more dangerous, but they are clearly more contagious. They seem to also affect young people more. We must be very alert in school and university settings.鈥�
Universities are set to begin reopening doors today too, after nearly two months of distance-learning. However, many have said they will wait until next week to see how the health situation develops.
Government advisory body le Conseil Scientifique has already said it fears an 鈥渦ncontrolled鈥� rebound in the epidemic in France, due to the Christmas and New Year festivities.
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