France’s schools become victim to 70 news cases of Coronavirus after the recent reopening of education centres

France’s schools become victim to 70 news cases of Coronavirus after the recent reopening of education centres

FRENCH health authorities have recorded 70 new cases of Covid-19 in schools that were allowed to reopen last week, as announced by the country’s education minister on Monday.

France closed its school and higher-education institutes starting March 17 as part of the country’s measures to contain its coronavirus outbreak. After two months of lockdown, France has begun to lift restrictions, including the reopening of some shops and pre-schools and elementary schools. Classes have been capped at 10 students for pre-schools and 15 students for other age groups.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told the French radio station RTL on Monday that 70 new cases of Covid-19 had been detected in the week since students came back, which he said was “inevitable.” Blanquer noted that the 70 cases were a small proportion of the 1.4 million schoolchildren who had returned. He said the affected schools would be closed immediately.