There has been some confusion (and a lot of discussion) around the new school quarantine rules. It’s been 4 days since the start of the school year, and the directors … have just received the measurements in detail. A circular takes up elements already known, but above all, it formalizes these measures at all levels.
Indeed, circular 8425 (download pdf) which can be found on this official site, is dated January 13. She is named Procedure for the management of Covid-19 cases and contacts in schools. This is a temporary modification of theEmergency Brake, or the measures to be applied in the event of problems related to Covid-19.
Here are the rules adapted to the level of education nursery and primary:
- All children in a group and members of the teaching staff are considered low risk contacts in the event of contamination of a pupil or an adult in contact with the group.
- An Emergency Brake procedure is maintained. This means that if there is 4 infected cases (or 25% for groups of less than 16 members) in the class (symptomatic or not – member of the teaching staff included), the class will be put in quarantine for 5 days.
- It is recommended, when there is a confirmed case in a classroom, and for a period of 10 days following the last contact at risk, to be vigilant. Information must be provided to parents to this effect by the directors.
And here are the rules for teaching secondary :
- At the level of secondary education, the rules applicable to the general population apply from 12 years old (or from the first year of secondary education). The identification of contacts will be carried out by the Call center and the vaccination status of the students will be taken into account in the event of close contact with a person positive for Covid-19.
- There is no longer an Emergency Brake in secondary. However, if a situation is considered worrying by the PSE team (very large number of cases and continued increase), it will contact the AVIQ / COCOM surveillance team by email. The regional hygiene inspector may take any additional measures deemed useful (such as the sanitary closure of a class or establishment). Note: The same rules apply to adults when it comes to what to do with close contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Finally, in all levels of education, regardless of age: no quarantine or isolation when you have been PCR tested positive within 5 months (but in the event of an emergency brake in the fundamental, this rule does not apply).