During this back-to-school week, 3,000 primary school students will be tested in 28 schools in the Académie de Nice. The aim is to finally have data on children between 6 and 14 years old to break the chains of coronavirus transmission. These saliva tests will only be conducted in contaminated establishments.
The rector of the Académie de Nice, Richard Laganier, clarifies: “The results, due to medical confidentiality, will not be sent to us. They will be sent within 24 hours to the parents, who have the freedom to inform us or not. If the child tests positive, the ARS (Regional Health Agency) will take charge, and a new PCR test will be conducted to check for variants, while the positive child will have to stay home for 10 days […] We apply the current rule: if only one child is affected by the so-called ‘English’ variant, the class remains open because primary school students wear masks. The class is closed when three cases of COVID-19 are confirmed. However, if even one child is affected by the South African or Brazilian variant, the entire class must close.”
This week, 3,000 tests will be carried out, and then 5,000 next week in the Alpes-Maritimes. The Académie de Nice announces the recruitment of 50 Anti-Covid mediators, mainly from medical and nursing students, to assist in this extensive campaign for the students.
