PARIS — Teachers and university students marched or went on strike Tuesday around France to demand more government support amid the pandemic.

Teachers want better virus protections at their schools, which have remained open since September because of the government’s concern about learning gaps. University students are frustrated that they’ve been barred from campuses since October. The protests were held in Paris, Marseille and other cities.

The education ministry says about 12% of teachers nationwide took part in a national call to strike Tuesday.

France has 3.1 million coronavirus cases, sixth in the world. It’s registered more than 73,000 confirmed deaths, seventh overall.