The Nord department is the most affected. A Coudekerque-Branche, a nursery school is even completely closed, the only one in Hauts-de-France. In total, 291 classes are suspended in the North, or nearly 1% of the total number of classes in the Academy of Lille. This is the national record.

Health authorities are warning of the progression of the virus at school. Since the return from the All Saints holidays, more and more students are infected. At the beginning of October, only 67 classes were closed in the Academy of Lille and 113 students were positive for the coronavirus, against 696 today.

Pas-de-Calais is also concerned, with 64 closed classes.

On the whole of Picardy, 84 classes are concerned:

• 48 lessons closed in the Oise
• 34 lessons closed in the Somme
• 2 closed lessons in the Aisne

The majority of closed classes are concentrated in the 1st level, ie nursery and primary schools. The protocol in force: as soon as a case of Covid-19 is detected, the entire class is suspended.

The protocol is different in middle and high schools. As soon as a pupil is declared positive, he is excluded and must follow the courses in distance. For the rest of the class, unvaccinated students “continue for 7 days distance learning”. The vaccinated students, “attend face-to-face classes “ recalls the Ministry of National Education.

For some parents, this protocol means problems. Orphée Leblanc represents the parents of pupils of a primary school in Douai. Last month, her fifth-grade son’s class was suspended after the discovery of a student positive for coronavirus. “I had to work from home, while doing homework for my son. It’s double the trouble. And besides, I’m not a teacher so we do our best with the Digital Work Environment (ENT ) of the establishment, but it is not practical at all “ tells Orpheus.

For her, the situation can create level imbalances within the same class. “There is no help for the students who are already struggling. They are managing at home.” According to her, the logic is the same for parents, no help with the organization is offered. “Some have to negotiate with their employer or take days off, others have to pay nannies. Basically, if a student is positive for Covid, we are told: take your children and get by.”