(Illustration) The city of Saint-Denis (93) is launching saliva tests for children up to 11 years old, at the COVID Biogroup / ARS screening center. Saint-Denis, France, April 3, 2021. – NICOLAS MESSYASZ / SIPA
The government considers “attainable” the goal of carrying out one million saliva tests for Covid-19 in schools, a source in the executive said on Wednesday after information from BFMTV and France Inter.
“This is what we are moving towards”, according to this source, but this figure is “a medium-term horizon, not a short-term one. Gradual ramp-up, but achievable goal ”. From the same source, the health protocol will remain identical to the start of the spring break, with the closure of a class from the first case of Covid observed.
The most affected departments as a priority
According to France Inter in particular, the distribution of saliva tests would begin in about twenty departments most affected by the epidemic, in particular in Ile-de-France. The radio and the continuous news channel BFMTV also mention self-tests which high school students undergo once a week and adult staff twice a week. The start of the school year is scheduled for Monday April 26, face-to-face in nursery and primary schools, and remotely for a week in college and high school.
Prime Minister Jean Castex, Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer and Minister of Health Olivier Véran will hold a press conference this Thursday at 6 p.m. during which these measures could be confirmed.