A trip to the doctor's surgery for a regular check-up used to be a routine part of the lives of millions of people across France.

But since the coronavirus outbreak, many patients are staying at home and are now using a variety of online tools or mobile apps to self-test so their doctors can monitor them from afar.

Despite the pressures of the confinement measures brought in to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, people are being urged not to neglect their health.

The French government has told citizens to stay at home and avoid all but essential trips.

Visits to the doctor are on the list of permitted activities, but many people worry they could pick up the virus in the doctor's surgery, as doctor Adrian Chaboche tells CGTN Europe.

"Some patients tell me that they prefer not to go outside, they're scared to be infected. So, I think that consultation at home is a pretty good alternative," Chaboche says.

"But a few patients said the opposite: 'Please, doctor, let me come to your office! I really need to go out, and I can't stand self-isolation anymore!'" he adds.

Under these circumstances, many people are turning to sites such as Doctolib, which was founded in 2013.

The service lets users quickly find and book doctor's appointments online.

Doctolib was founded in 2013 and has already has a valuation of around one billion euros ($1.1 billion).

Covidom is another app for COVID-19 carriers or suspected patients who do not need hospital treatment and only show mild symptoms.

The app was raced through development and released in early March.

"For people like me who are not in a serious enough condition to be looked at by a doctor in person, we know a qualified physician can still take care of us through the app," says Faty Radi, a patient using the app.

"We have to fill in a daily questionnaire and the doctor then evaluates our responses," Radi adds.

The French ministry of health has also set up an official test website, Maladie Coronavirus, with 23 questions to fill in at home.

This allows patients to find out quickly if they may have contracted the coronavirus.

France's health sector is creaking under the weight of the rising numbers of cases and deaths, especially in the Grand Est region of the country, where some patients have had to be transferred by helicopter or special train to other medical facilities with better capacity to treat the sick.

In response, France has ordered ventilators from Germany and face masks from China, and President Emmanuel Macron launched what he called a "massive investment plan," with more support for hospitals and doctors.