in Ivry-sur-Seine, the avalanche of contamination is disrupting municipal services

When it comes time to drop off the children, on the morning of Wednesday January 5, parents are relieved: the Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne) leisure center is open. Four extracurricular animators, positive for Covid-19, are nevertheless missing. To avoid the closure, the team had to improvise and find reinforcements. “There are animators nearby in elementary school where they have fewer children”, details Cécile Brehamet, host. In all departments, the situation is tense.

Culture, town planning or human resources, almost all services are today affected by Covid-19. “82 cases since January 3”, notes Stéphanie Richard, administrative manager. The explosion of cases and the disorganization of public services could well worsen, according to the first deputy (PCF) to the mayor, Romain Marchand. “For the moment it’s holding, it’s difficult. We have to prioritize, there are a certain number of missions that we put aside in order to be able to do what is essential. We appeal for the solidarity of the agents”, he lists, noting a “great weariness”. The town has already had to close the municipal swimming pool, and all its youth branches.