Health protocol in schools in the 2022 school year

The new protocol provides a basis and three levels of measures that will be applied depending on the country's epidemic situation:

• Level 1 (green)
• Level 2 (orange);
• level 3 (red).

The level applied at the time of the return to class on the 1^er September 2022 has just been decided by the Minister of National Education, this is the level base which corresponds to a normal situation: courses are held in person, both at school, middle school or high school, without restrictions on physical and sports activities, no limitation is provided for school catering.

You can look at the infographic School Year 2022-2023 - Protocol and Operating Framework.

The use of masks in schools is changing. From September onwards, there will be “an alignment of the school with the general population. Masks are therefore not included in any alert levels or alert thresholds: they can only be re-imposed on the orders of health authorities at national level. However, wearing masks is still recommended in closed and poorly ventilated spaces, in close proximity and for vulnerable people.

There is no specific rule in the school environment, no specific policy on tests in the school, and no system of tracing contact specific to the school environment," says the Ministry of National Education.

While students who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to self-isolate (according to national health rules), there will be no isolation for contact cases, nor a requirement for testing. So, no tracing contact specific to schools and salivary testing campaigns for this new school year.

Level 1 (green): moderate alertness

In level 1, students are taught in-person, with no mandatory brewing restrictions or restrictions on physical and sports activities.

In contrast, the following measures must be applied: daily disinfection of the most frequently touched surfaces, and of the refectory tables after each service, compliance with the measures of ventilation of the rooms and handwashing, measures of distancing at the canteen.

Level 2 (orange): increased vigilance

In level 2, courses are always held in person. The rules are the same at level 1 for hand washing and room ventilation.

The measures shall be strengthened in respect of:

• the limitation of brewing, which becomes compulsory by level (particularly for canteens in primary schools);
• disinfection of the most affected surfaces should occur several times a day;
• physical and sports activities should be outdoors with physical distancing. Contact sports are prohibited:
• pupils' arrivals and departures may, if possible, be spread over time;
• recreation should be organized in groups, and if there are difficulties setting it up, breaks in class can replace them.

Level 3 (red): adverse health trends

If the protocol goes to level 3, the courses are still held in person in primary school and college. On the other hand, hybrid education (face-to-face/distance learning) is introduced in high school depending on the local context.

With regard to school meals, primary school students must eat at the same table every day, keeping a minimum distance of 2 meters from other classes. Tables should be disinfected after each meal, or “if possible” after each meal, the ministry says. Limiting level mixing becomes mandatory.

Physical and sporting activities should be outdoors. They are allowed indoors if the weather or the lack of facilities makes it necessary. Only “low-intensity activities” with physical distancing will be allowed.