Lunchtime News Monday 17th August 2020

Local

Man dies after falling from hotel balcony - A 26-year-old man has died after falling several metres from his hotel balcony in Avignon. The incident occurred shortly after 4am this morning. Police have opened an investigation to determine the circumstances in which the individual fell to his death.

Fire in Puget-sur-Argens - A fire has broken out near the RD N7 in Puget-sur-Argens in the Var. Firefighter were at the scene at 9.30am this morning as 1,000 m2 of vegetation as well as a storage of rubbish and tyres were destroyed by the flames.

Water bombers were mobilized against this fire, which has since been brought under control.

Marseille - The French Government’s spokesperson Gabriel Attal is expected in Marseille this afternoon to visit the Covid-19 screening center in the Old Port. Ahead of his arrival Attal announced more resources in Marseille to enforce the wearing of masks in 7 districts of the city, which had become compulsory after the prefect's decision. This will include an increase in the number of CRS police officers to control the wearing of masks.

Antoine Lacassagne centre in Nice draws attention to a genetic predisposition in Covid-19 infection - In a study published by researchers from the Antoine Lacassagne centre, which specializes in cancer care and research here in Nice, it’s been highlighted that there is a genetic predisposition in Covid-19 infection.

In an attempt to answer the common question as to why some individuals are more vulnerable than others to the coronavirus researchers and doctors from the Antoine Lacassagne center claim to have found an explanation. For them, genetics play a major role in how vulnerable some people are to Covid-19.

The study has shown that an individual genetic characterisation can determine the risk of developing Covid-19 infection and this could be determined by a simple and inexpensive genetic test.

Researchers say that the test would make it possible to highlight the risks of each patient. The research concluded that it will be “a question of time and money” before these inexpensive genetic tests could be carried out on a large scale.

National

Puy du Fou - A history-themed amusement park in western France was at the heart of controversy yet again over the weekend when organisers of a nighttime show received permission to host 9,000 visitors despite restrictions on large gatherings amid a national spike in coronavirus cases.

Nearly 9,000 spectators gathered at the Puy du Fou historical theme park in the Vendée in western France for a show despite a nationwide ban on gatherings exceeding 5,000 people due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Local officials authorised the mass gathering on Saturday, sparking allegations of favouritism since Philippe de Villiers, a far-right French politician who founded the Puy du Fou, is a friend of President Emmanuel Macron, according to French media reports.