On August 21, two weeks before the start of the school year in England, the British Ministry of Education announced that it wanted to finance the massive deployment of CO detectors.2 in schools, with a budget of 25 million pounds in the key. These devices alerting to the carbon dioxide concentration and indicating a lack of air renewal conducive to the spread of Covid-19 are considered to be good prevention tools in closed spaces.
The news has been welcomed by teachers, but it is far from completely satisfying them, given that, moreover, almost all the precautionary measures enacted since 2020 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in schools have been lifted this summer, the Ministry of Education contenting itself, for the start of the 2021 school year, with asking establishments to test pupils twice in a row when they return to class (between 1er and September 2, depending on the establishment). Students will then have to test themselves twice a week at home, at least until the end of September.
No more compulsory masks in classrooms or common areas, no more “bubbles” or obligation to quarantine themselves for students who have been in close contact with other students or teachers who have tested positive … The only strategy of the ministry, in addition to CO tests and sensors2, is to have established “emergency plans” in case an epidemic outbreak appears (more than five people in close contact tested positive), and – possibly – to teach outdoors.
Explosive infection rates in Scotland
The 25 million envelope should make it possible to equip public establishments with 300,000 CO sensors2, but it remains virtual for the moment: their deployment will start, gradually, only in the fall, with priority given to establishments specializing in fragile and disabled children, etc. ” We are delighted that the government is investing in these CO sensors2 for middle and high schools, but we are waiting to find out what will happen if these monitors indicate that rooms in establishments need better ventilation. The government has promised guidelines but it must also commit to funding quality ventilation systems where needed ”, explains a spokesperson for the Association of School and College Leaders, one of the country’s leading unions of principals.
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