The recommendations of the scientific council for deconfinement

Preparation for deconfinement, scheduled for May 11, continues to occupy the government. The Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, must present a first plan to end confinement this Tuesday, April 28 before Parliament and outline the outlines that it will have to take. In this perspective, the scientific council, which is consulted by the President of the Republic and the ministers before their decision-making, has made its recommendations for a “gradual and controlled lifting of containment”. These are listed in two notices posted online last Saturday.

Avoid travel abroad

In his first review, the Scientific Council proposes solutions on the overall modalities of deconfinement for the first two months. The first prerequisite is the wearing of the mask which must, according to the council, be “systematic” during the first months, requiring only “alternative masks of industrial or artisanal production anti-projection” be “available to the entire population and distributed in priority to people in regular contact with the public”. Thus, places supposed to receive the public must be able to offer masks as well as hydroalcoholic gel.

Regarding travel, the opinion of the scientific council is not strict since it suggests, as the government has also communicated, authorizing travel between the different regions of our territory, as soon as the barrier measures and social distancing rules are respected. Regarding public transport, especially in large cities, he recommends a “staggered hours” employees, associated with the maintenance of telework, to avoid saturation at certain times. Travel abroad is discouraged in order to “reduce the risk of reintroduction of the virus into the national territory.”

Respect social distancing at school

For the resumption of school, the scientific council, which has devoted his second opinion to this problem, gives a certain number of rules which must accompany the return to school benches. “Wearing a mask must be compulsory”recommends the advice in the first place, which also indicates that wearing a mask is “impossible” in kindergarten, and would like an adaptation according to the age in primary school. For social distancing, the council recommends a meter gap between tables. Schools will also have to make sure that students do not cross paths and will have to, “If it’s possible”, all have lunch in class, at their table. Finally, the advice suggests that parents take children’s temperatures every day before leaving for school and not drop them off if they show symptoms.

For the rest of the organization of the city, the scientific council wants to be pragmatic. Telework should be continued as much as possible. For merchants and craftsmen, it is proposed to resume an activity by scrupulously respecting the rules of social distancing and “concerning, if possible, only half of the workers.” For people considered at risk, who are over 65 years old or who have chronic pathologies, it is advisable to respect “strict and voluntary confinement, which protects them from the risk of contamination”. Finally, all public gatherings must be prohibited.