“This measure does not seem unreasonable and rather in favor of science”General practitioner Jimmy Mohamed said Saturday January 1 on franceinfo, while a decree published in the Official Journal stipulates the obligation to wear a mask in many public places from the age of 6. “We can understand that in closed places where there are people, if we take the example of public transport, children can both catch the Covid virus, but also that of the flu which is in the process of progress quietly, and pass it on to others. “
But Jimmy Mohamed finds that “During the previous wave, that of the Delta, the mask at school among unvaccinated children under 12 did not prevent an outbreak of the epidemic”. According to him, it will therefore be necessary “secure schools with air renewal to adapt ventilation, perhaps air purifiers, or even take carbon dioxide detectors into account”.
The doctor recalls that “children, just like adolescents, as adults, participate in the driving force of the epidemic”. But they are not “not responsible for the epidemic, because currently, schools are closed and we have never had so many cases diagnosed “. He warns that with the wave of the Omicron variant, “We don’t really know what awaits us with this new school year. Will the children all fall ill one after the other? Will the teachers, childminders, the ladies who take care of the children at the canteen will be able to be present? I think there is above all a risk of disorganization of the school system rather than a health risk for the children. “
Wearing a mask therefore remains “a measure which is quite acceptable” for children, insists Jimmy Mohamed, “a measure which does not cost much, which is effective and which can also help us to limit the breakage”. This allows in particular to “take public transport without stressing”, without wondering if her child will “get the coronavirus or any other respiratory infection, like the flu or bronchiolitis.”
While at least 50 departments have made it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors, the doctor considers that “flirt with what is acceptable”. He recognizes that “the French have nevertheless agreed to a lot of efforts: confinements, curfews, teleworking, vaccinations, regular tests”. But wearing a mask in an outdoor environment, “except in a very crowded place”, seems disproportionate to him. “In the street, we know that the risk of contamination is close to zero. So it is a measure that I find quite restrictive, difficult for the French to accept and which, above all, will have almost no impact on the epidemic . “