Question on the front page of The cross. Faced with the explosion of Covid cases due to the Omicron variant, ” in hospitals, firefighters, transport, in the energy sector, through distribution or even banks, the sectors essential to the life of the French are getting organized to continue to operate. They say they are ready to take the shock. “
Release is a little less optimistic … ” Unlike previous waves, it is not so much a congestion of hospitals that many fear, given the low virulence of the Omicron variant, as a disorganization of society. Everyone has been able to experience it: not a single family has been spared, or almost, all it takes is one positive case and several contact cases to nullify travel plans, stay at work or family reunions. . Transpose that to a business, an educational establishment or a hospital, multiply it all and you will have an idea of what awaits us in January. “
Schoolchildren tested …
Exactly, all eyes are on the school … ” Back to school under close surveillance, exclaims The Parisian. This Monday, 12.5 million students return to school after two weeks of Christmas vacation. With them, a surprise guest (therefore): the Omicron variant and its very strong contagiousness. In an interview with the newspaper, Jean-Michel Blanquer, the Minister of National Education, unveils the outlines of the protocol which will apply from this Monday at school. Main decision: the multiplication of tests for contact case students rather than the systematic closure of classes, a strong incentive for vaccination of 5-11 year olds, and a call to mayors to take advantage of the State fund of 20 million euros to equip their schools with CO2 sensors. “
Question from Parisian : ” the scientific council estimates that in January, a third of teachers will be positive cases or in custody of infected children. Or 200,000 teachers. How to replace them? Will the school hold out? “
Response from Jean-Michel Blanquer: “ clearly, January will be tense and we are in a position to face it. During the period, we are suspending all other causes of absence than illness – for example, continuing education – and recruiting contract workers and temporary workers. This allows, in the first degree, to go from a replacement capacity of 9% to 12-15% depending on the academies. “
A bet…
Comment from Republican Lorrain : ” this doctrine of opening schools despite everything has been successful so far. (…) In fact, France can be proud of having preserved its education system. (…) However, points to the daily life in Lorraine, the current situation has nothing to do with the other waves. Little affected at the start of the epidemic, children are now affected by variants in the same way as adults. (…) An unprecedented situation which could well transform ministerial firmness into die-hardism. In this regard, the coming week will be decisive. Because putting schoolchildren back in class while placing parents in telework is not just a strategy: it is also a gamble, the results of which will soon be known. “
Hence the great title of The Midday Dispatch : “ back under Covid: it goes or it breaks … (…) If this fifth wave is indeed the last as the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran wants to believe, and that it dies slowly without saturating the hospitals, then the government will have succeeded in its bet on sanitary “at the same time”. “
But we are not there yet …
The reign of the “ultracrepidarians”
” What does the future hold for us? », Asks echoing The union. ” No one really knows. It is especially difficult to be certain except if one lines up behind these famous “ultracrepidarians”, a term returned to fashion which indicates the people who have an opinion on everything without having knowledge or skills on the subjects in question. A species that has never been so present in the media and social networks since the start of the Covid. “