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HEALTH

Will France reopen all schools in June?

Reopening schools is a "main priority," the French government confirmed on Thursday, as ministers laid out the plan to ease more of the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks.

Will France reopen all schools in June?
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer. Photo: AFP

“Reopening schools has been one of our main goals,” said Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer as he presented the next steps France will take to progressively return more pupils back to class as of June 2nd.

That date marks the beginning of “phase 2” in the progressive lifting of the coronavirus lockdown imposed on March 17th by President Emmanuel Macron.

Phase 2 will, like phase 1, last approximately three weeks, from June 2nd to June 21st.

Stressing that the “method would remain the same,” based on “pragmatism” and “putting the health of pupils and employees first,” Blanquer said more schools would reopen in the weeks to come.

That means keeping restrictions on class sizes – 15 pupils maximum in schools, 10 in nurseries.

What will reopen?

As of June 2nd, all of France's elementary and primary schools will begin to reopen “for at least part of the week,” the education minister said, while maintaining current practices of taking in smaller groups. 

Secondary schools (collèges), which had so far only been able to reopen in green zones, would begin to reopen as of June 2nd, “both in green and orange zones,” Blanquer said.

As for high schools (lycées), they would reopen in green zones only. Orange zones – like the greater Paris region – would work to reopen for some technical college students only.

READ MORE: France's latest announcements on lifting lockdown in June 

 

How many will go back to class?

While the goal is to reopen all schools except lycées, this will not mean all pupils will return to class at the same time.

The return will, as the government has stressed from the outset, will be progressive and adapted to local authorities' wishes.

Right now, more 80 percent of France's total infant and junior schools (maternelle and élémentaire) have reopened in over 90 percent of the country's communes, according to Blanquer.

Still only a marginal part of the pupils have returned to class, 22 percent in green zones and 14 percent in red.

There are also regional differences, so for example in the Brittany département of Finistère all primary schools are open but in the eastern département of Oise only around 50 percent are open.

Many parents opted out of sending their children to class, preferring to keep them home for the time being and give priority for parents working jobs where remote working is impossible.

 

Sending children back to school will still be done on voluntary basis during phase 2.

The goal will be to progressively increase the number of children returning to class in the coming week, and ensure that all infant and primary schools “systematically receive pupils, at least for a part of the week,” Blanquer said.

“As health precautions will be maintained, groups will still be limited to 15 at the time,” Blanquer said, adding that, “everything will not be perfect from one day to the next.”

“What's important is that we move forward,” he said.

Scrapped le bac

The oral exam of the baccalauréat  – the infamous end-of-high school test – has been cancelled, Blanquer confirmed.

This latter decision was received with a wave of relief on social media by anxious high schoolers, with tweets like “we love you, Blanquer” circulating shortly after the announcement.

 

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HEALTH

Do I need a prescription to get antibiotics in France?

A new law means that a prescription is not always required if you need antibiotics in France.

Do I need a prescription to get antibiotics in France?

In most cases, people in France requiring antibiotics will need a prescription (ordonnance) from a doctor.

However, there are two exceptions, according to a new decree published in France’s Journal Officiel on Tuesday.

The updated law allows French pharmacists to dispense antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription for two common infections; cystitis (UTIs) and tonsillitis/strep throat (angines in French), which can both be confirmed by a test at the pharmacy.

If you suspect you have either of these infections, you can go to the pharmacy to get a test, known as a Test Rapide d’Orientation Diagnostique or TROD.

If the test is positive, the pharmacist will be able to prescribe antibiotics without you having to visit a doctor. You can visit the pharmacy on a walk-in basis, with no need for an appointment, and at least one qualified pharmacist should be on the premises at all times.

The move comes after a relaxation on the rules around vaccines allowing pharmacists to give eight common vaccines without a doctor’s prescription – in addition to the Covid and seasonal flu vaccines which can already be accessed at a pharmacy without prescription. 

Pharmacists in France receive a minimum of six years of training and can offer medical advice for a range of conditions, as well as dispensing medication. 

READ MORE: More than prescriptions: 11 things you can do at a French pharmacy

What about prescriptions?

For all other types of conditions requiring antibiotics, a prescription will still be required.

In France, only doctors (both general practitioners and specialists), dental surgeons (chirurgiens-dentistes) and midwives (sages-femmes) are authorised to prescribe medicines.

As such, you would need an appointment with one of these professionals to get a prescription.

What if I’m just visiting France?

French residents would normally go to their registered doctor if they fall ill, but people who are either just visiting France or who are not registered in the French health system can access doctors too.

If you do have the carte vitale – the card confirming that you are registered in the French health system – you can still book an appointment with a doctor, although you won’t be entitled to any state reimbursement. You would have to either pay the costs yourself (€26 for a standard GP appointment, plus the cost of the prescription) or claim on your health or travel insurance if you have it.

Booking a GP appointment can be as simple as phoning a local doctor or using an online service such as Doctolib. You may also call up SOS Médecins if you want a home visit, but this costs more than a usual visit.

READ MORE: How to make a doctor’s appointment in France

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