pandemic

French teachers denounce ‘infernal’ conditions in schools amid pandemic

France

French school teachers and education staff held a crippling strike and nationwide protest marches last Thursday over what they say are chaotic and unsafe working conditions brought about by ever-changing, last-minute anti-Covid measures imposed without consultation by the education ministry, and which they too often learn about from the media. Mathilde Goanec has been hearing from teachers and local councils about their nigh impossible mission amid the government’s determination to keep schools open.

France's unvaccinated hit back at Macron: 'Forcing us isn't the answer'

France — Report

Less than a week ago President Emmanuel Macron caused controversy when he said he wanted to “piss off” the unvaccinated in France, whom he described as “irresponsible” and “no longer citizens” in his eyes. As Mediapart has found out, these comments shocked people who have not – yet – made the decision to get vaccinated against Covid. Divided between those who have doubts about the vaccine, others who are afraid, or some who simply feel that it is their duty to defend public liberties, the unvaccinated say they feel misunderstood and are unhappy about being stigmatised. Nejma Brahim reports.

French ex-health minister Buzyn faces probe over handling of pandemic

France — Link

Agnès Buzyn faces investigation over  claims of "endangering the lives of others" said prosecutors, but not for a second possible offence of "failure to stop a disaster".

How and when the spread of Covid-19 in France swept out of control

France — Investigation

In France, as in other European countries emerging from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the past management of the now subsiding crisis is under scrutiny, and many questions are being asked as to how the terrible toll of the virus might have been lessened by more appropriate action early on. In this report, Caroline Coq-Chodorge and Lise Barnéoud trace the chronology of events, interview those doctors involved on the frontline and reveal confidential documents from the French healthcare administration that show how the spread of the epidemic in France was out of control as of March 1st.

Tracing why France became so vulnerable to the Covid-19 epidemic

France — Link

Cuts and outsourcing left France scrambling for masks, tests, and even pain pills in its emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic.