France currently has 17,037 closed classes, a record, Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday during a press conference dedicated to the timetable for lifting restrictions. The previous record, 14,380 classes closed, dated January 14. 152 schools are closed in the country, the vast majority of kindergartens or primary schools. 463,197 students (3.79%) tested positive during the week, a figure which could be underestimated since it is based on voluntary declarations. On the educational staff side, 30,774 people contracted Covid-19, which represents 2.56% of the total staff.
The executive “consider” a relaxation of the protocol in schools after the February holidays, announced the head of government. “We will be able to consider, when we return from the February school holidays, a reduction in the protocol” health in schools, in terms of wearing a mask or the tests to be carried out, indicated the Prime Minister. The last zone holiday return date is March 7th.
The current protocol will remain in force until the start of the February vacation, said Jean Castex in response to a question from a journalist. “There are three zones (for the holidays: editor’s note), we will take advantage of this time to see how things are developing and we will contact the health authorities again at the start of the school year to see to what extent (…) we can adapt the system”, he said.