Seven schools have closed as a precaution in the north-eastern French city of Roubaix after a child tested positive for coronavirus.
Officials say they will tell the families of those who came in contact with the child. Meanwhile, the shuttered schools will conduct lessons remotely.
French schools began to reopen last week as the country slowly eased its lockdown. But many were concerned about the move, with one poll showing 69% of respondents thought authorities could not keep them safe. A number of other schools have since closed because of positive cases.
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told French broadcaster RTL on Monday that 70 cases of the virus had been found in the roughly 40,000 schools that have opened since last week.
He said all affected schools had been shut, showing how strict the authorities were being on safety.
But he also said that not teaching children could have serious consequences. “Our children must not be collateral victims of health measures,” he reportedly said.
