The French Pediatric Society as well as learned societies specializing in children are mobilizing to ensure that schools and nurseries remain open, especially in the event of a third confinement.
A “second pandemic” of mistreatment
The message from the collective of children’s health professionals is clear: “ the prospect of a new confinement with the closure of schools, nurseries, communities and socio-educational environments raises fears of an aggravation of the deleterious effects […] on children’s mental and social health “. Indeed, in recent weeks, pediatricians, child psychiatrists and pediatric emergency services in France have noted an unprecedented increase in the number of outpatient and hospital consultations, but also in admissions of children to emergencies and hospitals. It is not because they have Covid-19. Children who are the subject of consultations are in pain, feel anxiety, ” dark thoughts or suicidal gestures, often in the context of mistreatment “. They are abused, hence their tendency to depression and to feel stress. The company denounces the psychological distress of these children, described by their English college as ” a second pandemic of mistreatment “. At the dawn of a potential third confinement in France, learned societies are pleading in favor of maintaining the opening of schools and nurseries.
Arguments
Indeed, according to the scientific data of a high level at their disposal, professionals confirm that ” children under the age of 11 not only had much fewer severe forms, but were also less contaminated and much less contaminating “. In addition, the majority of children are infected within family cells and not in school or reception structures. They illustrate this information by taking the example of Sweden: without wearing a mask, teachers of children aged 7 to 16 were twice as likely to contract Covid-19 as professionals from other sectors. In addition, the opening of schools plays a less role in the resurgence of the epidemic compared to the gatherings of adults. To date, 0.11% of school structures are closed in France, which represents 64 establishments out of 61,500, according to the Ministry of National Education. Compared to variants, which are more contagious, learned societies recommend strengthening certain preventive measures, in particular with a more qualitative screening policy. The “ mental and social health [des enfants] should not be sacrificed in a pandemic context but remain a health priority in view of the challenges for the years to come. We have a duty to protect the overall health of the youngest », They conclude.
