Thousands of schools reopen as France eases COVID-19 lockdown

Thousands of schools reopened throughout France as the government eases its coronavirus lockdown rules despite some fears of a second waves of infections. | A teacher wearing a protective mask teaches children in her classroom at Champ l'Eveque public school in Bruz, France.

According to official figures there were 348 new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the national total to 26,991. | French children head back to their schools with new rules and social distancing during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France.

Primary and nursery schools reopened however, with teachers wearing face masks and the children's chairs separated to avoid spreading the disease. | Teachers wearing protective face masks spray hydroalcoholic solution to schoolchildren's hands as they enter their school during its reopening in Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire near Nantes.

For Gregory Bouvier, headmaster of a nursery school in Rennes, northwest France, it was all a bit "surreal". "It's not part of a nursery school's DNA to have the children spaced apart from each other remaining at their desks and not able to share things," he told AFP.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer hailed the reopening, which will be rolled out gradually throughout the country, including Paris schools on Thursday, before some secondary schools resume lessons next week.

To ease the fears of parents concerned that the virus remains just a sneeze away, the government has given them the choice to allow their children to return to school or remain under lockdown at home. | A teacher wearing a protective face mask speaks with pupils after they have returned to their classroom at the Trinite public school in the Groix island.

Unions have criticised the decision to reopen the schools calling it "premature". Some scientists and parliamentary deputies have also questioned the decision. | Teachers wearing protective masks watch pupils in the school yard after children returned to Placieux' elementary school in Villers-les-Nancy.

France began easing its two-month lockdown on Monday, with residents able venture outdoors without filling in a permit for the first time in nearly eight weeks and some shops reopening their doors. A teacher wearing a protective face mask teaches to schoolchildren in a classroom at a private school during its reopening in Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire.

But officials are keeping an anxious eye on events in Germany and South Korea which have reimposed some restrictions as virus cases rose after they eased lockdown measures. | Schoolchildren listen to their teacher at the primary school Simone Veil during its reopening in Nice.

Pupils raise their hands as they speak with a teacher wearing a protective facemask after they have returned to their classroom at the Trinite public school in the Groix island

A teacher addresses her pupils at the Jean-Jaures primary school of Cenon, France.

Teachers wearing protective masks speak to pupils after children returned to Placieux' elementary school in Villers-les-Nancy.

Schoolchildren listen to their teacher at the primary school Simone Veil during its reopening in Nice.

A teacher gives class at the private school Institut Sainte Genevieve in Paris.

A teacher sprays alcoholic gel on the hands of a boy arriving at the Jean-Jaures primary school of Cenon.