Lunchtime News Friday 5th June 2020

Scientific Council claim that Covid-19 is “controlled” in France - Professor Jean-François Delfraissy president of the Scientific Council in France has this morning claimed that the Covid-19 epidemic is currently "controlled" in France. Delfraissy said that while "the virus continues to circulate, in particular in certain regions but it is now circulating at a slower speed”.

The professor went on to explain that “In early March there were roughly several tens of thousands of cases, with around 80,000 new cases per day ahead of lockdown. The council now estimates that this figure has now dropped to currently around 1,000 cases”.

Swimming pool complex in Antibes opens from tomorrow - The nautical stadium in Antibes has announced that it will be reopening its doors on Saturday 6th June. The swimming complex was awaiting the green light from the Prefect of the Alpes Maritimes which was finally given.

The pools will be open to the public tomorrow from 10am to 6pm. The capacity of the pools will be in accordance with the health guidelines which have been put in place by the regional health agency.

Beaches closed to swimmers in Antibes and Juan les Pins - Following the bad weather on Thursday the city councils of Antibes and Juan les Pins have temporarily closed the beaches in the area to swimmers. The swimming ban was issued at 8.30pm on Thursday and is in place until midnight tonight.

The closure has been introduced as a precaution due to heavy rainfall which caused sewers to overflow with wastewater.  A similar incident was reported in Beaulieu this morning leading to the closure of the beach. 

Primary school pupil tests positive for coronavirus in Nice - A pupil at the Saint-Barthélémy primary school in Nice has tested positive for coronavirus. The schoolboy was diagnosed last week and has self-isolated for a fortnight until Friday, June 12th. All contact cases including other pupils and staff, have been ordered to spend seven days in self-isolation and will be tested.

The regional health agency has implemented the necessary health measures and for the time being the school remains open. 

Coronavirus - In the Alpes Maritimes one additional death from the coronavirus has been reported on Thursday. Latest figures show that 253 people have died from Covid-19 in the Alpes Maritimes and 227 in the Var.

National – On a national level 44 new deaths from coronavirus were reported in France in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the epidemic to 29,065. The number of patients in intensive care continues to drop.

13,101 people are still hospitalized due to Covid-19 and 1,163 patients are in intensive care, which is 47 fewer patients compared to Wednesday.