Lunchtime News Tuesday 4th August 2020

Local

Cluster declared in Saint Tropez - A new coronavirus cluster has been declared this morning in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in the Var. 18 people are reported to have tested positive. At the weekend two restaurants one on the Place des Lices and the other on the beach of Pampelonne closed after staff tested positive.

Bars and restaurants failing to respect social distancing are set to face tougher action in Nice - Meanwhile in Nice the Mayor Christian Estrosi, has warned that those bars and restaurants failing to take necessary measures due to the health crisis will face tougher action. To date, 23 establishments have already been handed several warnings due to failure to comply with social distancing measures.

Telephone scam in Monaco targets the elderly - Elderly residents in the Principality have recently been targeted by a phone scam. Monaco Telecom has asked its customers to beware of hidden numbers or numbers from abroad. The elderly are thought to be the main target of the scam with nearly 50 cases being reported since July 28th.

French President to pay tribute to home help professionals - French President Emmanuel Macron is in Toulon today. Macron who is currently on holiday in the region is to visit home help professionals in the region to pay tribute to them for their work throughout the health crisis. According to the Elysee his visit to show support but also to reaffirm to the general public the importance of respecting barrier gestures to protect the most vulnerable.

National

Man assaulted over mask - A father of two has been assaulted in a launderette in northern France after asking one of the customers inside to wear a mask. The 44-year-old was set upon by three individuals.

Augustin was taken to hospital suffering head injuries and requiring several stitches. He has since filed a complaint for aggravated violence.

Scientific Council gives warning about the current situation concerning the Covid-19 pandemic in France - The Scientific Council, which is the body set up to advise the French government during the coronavirus pandemic, has said it is concerned about the current situation.

In a statement made public today the council warns that "The virus is circulating more actively, with an increased loss of distancing measures and barrier gestures it’s a fragile situation which means that at any moment France can switch to a less controlled scenario similar to that of Spain for example",

The Council goes on to add that "the future of the epidemic in the short term is largely in the hands of citizens". Beyond the situation this summer, the Scientific Council still considers it to be "highly probable that there will be a second epidemic wave in the fall or winter".