French school Covid rules to be reviewed, decision expected this week

The government is hoping to make changes in three areas, including testing protocol and mask-wearing rules

School children with masks
School Covid rules are set to change shortly in France

France is aiming to relax certain Covid rules in schools shortly with an announcement expected by the end of this week.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said in a press conference today (February 9) that a meeting will take place tomorrow with the relevant parties, based on the opinion of the Haut Conseil de la santé publique.

He said the aim was to progress in three areas:

  • Review the current Covid protocol in place in schools

  • A relaxation of mask-wearing for young children, which is ‘very restrictive’

  • A relaxation of Covid testing protocols, also deemed to be ‘very restrictive’.

He was speaking after a Covid Conseil de défense sanitaire meeting involving cabinet ministers.

Schools around France break for a two-week winter holiday period in February, with the dates differing depending on the zone the school is in.

Read more: Calendar: France school holidays 2021/2022

Mr Attal also spoke about eventually dropping the vaccine pass for all and anti-Covid restriction protests.

Read more: Vaccine pass could end by April, says France’s Covid strategy head

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