French Primary Schools Reopen as Coronavirus Lockdown Measures Eased

A primary school in Rennes, France, has reopened after French authorities eased lockdown measures that were put in place during the coronavirus pandemic, footage posted on May 13 shows.

École Elementaire Publique Jacques Prevert in Bruz allowed children back into its classrooms on May 12. Children were encouraged to wash their hands and desks were spread out to keep a distance between pupils. The school was visited by local schools rector Emmanuel Ethis to mark the reopening.

France began to ease its lockdown measures on May 11. The country was divided into ‘red’ and ‘green’ zones based on where the virus was circulating more quickly. Primary schools in both zones were allowed to reopen.

Class sizes were limited to 15 pupils. Children and staff were required to keep a distance of at least one meter from one another at all times, and recess and meal times were staggered to avoid lines, according to the Huffington Post. Teachers were advised to wear masks and were provided with two masks per day if they had direct contact with students.

As of May 12, France had 140,227 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 26,991 reported deaths. Credit: Académie de Rennes via Storyful