Lunchtime News Friday February 26th 2021

Lockdown-The Alpes Maritimes is entering a weekend lockdown from 6pm this evening until Monday at 6am.

Essential shopping is allowed and a number of other stores including garden centres ,car hire firms and tobacconists will be open.

Exercise is permitted for one hour no more than 5 kilometres from your home and the walking of pets is allowed.

People can also attend medical appointments or take part in approved sporting activities.

Some details of what people and are not allowed to do this weekend has been published on the site www.service-public.fr  but there is no official document to download yet !

Riviera Radio will provide the link for the new ‘attestation derogatoire’ here when it is published by the authorities.

LINK: https://media.interieur.gouv.fr/attestation-deplacement-derogatoire-covid-19/

Var-The Var is one of 20 departments which to be placed under heightened surveillance as cases of the new British variant rise.

The government says that it will take a decision whether to impose tougher restrictions such as a weekend lockdown in the middle of next week.

Monaco-Curfew restrictions remain in force in Monaco but a weekend lockdown has not been imposed.

Authorities are urging residents not to travel to the Alpes Maritimes unless absolutely necessary.

The Monaco government has warned that the coronavirus pandemic remains extremely serious and has not ruled out imposing stricter measures if required.

Nice prom- The Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has confirmed that he’s looking at the possibility of closing the Promenade des Anglais to pedestrians as a temporary measure to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Estrosi says a study will be carried out as part of government recommendations.

The closure which would last for 15 days could be implemented to prevent overcrowding and the  non-observance of social distancing.

A decision will be taken in the next few days.

Paris-Paris City Hall has suggested a three week strict lockdown for the capital with a view to opening up more services afterwards.

The city council wants to see all shops and restaurants to be allowed to open again quickly and thinks a three week lockdown to drive down cases of the virus is the best way forward.

The government says that it will look at the proposals but initial reaction suggests that the idea will be rejected.

Gas leak-29 people have been evacuated from an apartment block in Antibes.

Reports say that the leak was detected in a basement on the avenue de Chatagnier on Thursday evening.

The gas supply was cut off and people moved out of the building while the leak was repaired.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes late last night.