Toulouse Academy: saliva tests continue in schools where students fear the return of the mandatory mask
In nursery and elementary schools in Haute-Garonne, saliva tests are offered to students “depending on the health context”, recalls the academic inspectorate. The latter does not rule out the hypothesis of a return of the compulsory mask for children if the alert threshold for the Covid-19 incidence rate continues to be exceeded in the region.
The thousands of parents of students in Haute-Garonne schools have their eyes riveted on the alert threshold of the incidence rate – the ratio between the number of new patients to the size of the target population – which has just passed. the bar of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the Occcitanie region, according to the latest newsletter from the Regional Health Agency (ARS).
The department, whose incidence rate was below the alert threshold last week, has so far been spared a return of the mask for the 122,000 students concerned, after the announcements of government spokesman Gabriel Attal, Wednesday November 3. In total, 61 departments were affected by the wearing of the compulsory mask, where the alert threshold was crossed for more than five consecutive days.
Still, to track down the coronavirus, the Haute-Garonne academic inspectorate continues its campaign of saliva tests in schools. In the Toulouse academy, which brings together the departments, it was launched on March 5, the Las Peyras school in Rabastens (81).
A preventive policy not always accepted
“With a view to further strengthening the screening policy and following the opinion of the High Authority for Health, RT-PCR saliva tests are deployed in schools, said the Toulouse rectorate. They are primarily reserved for students. nursery and elementary schools for which they offer better acceptability than nasopharyngeal swabs (…) It is a screening device that is part of the preventive policy put in place to strengthen the screening policy, to break the chains of contamination and ensure epidemic surveillance “.
While screening is voluntary by parents, from week to week the number of saliva tests offered in schools varies significantly. It follows the contaminations curve in schools. On October 15, out of 33,694 tests offered to students, 23,218 were carried out. A week later, on October 22, the number of proposed RT-PCR tests fell to 9,369 from 6,125 performed.
There are still many parents of students who are resistant to screening. “It is the parents who accept, until the last moment, explains Jean Chevalier, chief of staff of the academic director of the national education services (Dasen). Children are listened to by teachers, if they refuse to do so. . It is very variable. The positive side is that since it is not intrusive, it is more accepted. Prevention tools. “
The effectiveness of saliva tests? “We trigger tests depending on the health context, adds Jean Chevalier. When we detect positive cases. But the news is really reduced on the circulation of the virus, since the start of the holidays”.
In any case, the wearing of the obligatory mask for the pupils is still relevant. “We are vigilant. Last week, the department was below the alert threshold. It is now up to the prefect to initiate the procedure. mask.” What no one wants.
Mathieu Sieye: “It’s a test that is not intrusive”
At the academic direction, the Dasen Mathieu Sieye ensures his services remain vigilant about the circulation of the virus in schools. “The departmental health unit, while continuing the daily tracing of cases of covid in establishments and schools, has focused on vaccination for students over 12 years of age in middle school and high school since the start of the school year,” recalls. he. In this context, 1st level students (nursery and elementary) can benefit from a saliva screening test. It is only carried out with parental permission. No sample is taken if the child objects at the time of the test. It is a test which is not intrusive and therefore much better accepted. The screening operation is linked by recruited and authorized mediators, in cooperation with partner laboratories. From October, tests (6,081) were carried out for 23 positive cases or 0.38%. “