Evening Update 10 March

The Monaco government has addressed concerns of Italians who travel regularly to work in the principality. They say, with the co-operation of Italian and French governments, the border remains open and the 4,200 workers who travel mainly from Ventimiglia can continue to work freely.

SNCF are maintaining their rail service to Ventimiglia but the Thello train service between Marseilles and Milan is suspended until April. In Marseilles, a cruise ship was allowed dock this afternoon after two suspected cases tested negative.

It's accepted that France will soon reach CoronaVirus Level 3, where emergency measures drawn up after the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak, will come into effect.

Those measures include the closing of schools, further restrictions on public gatherings, encouraging people to avoid public transport or any non-essential travel.

In their place are plans for home education, remote working, price monitoring, maintenance of essential health products and the reinforcement of medical personnel.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran has said the French healthcare system is capable of coping with the spread of the virus … with care workers able to consult patients remotely via video, and in the event of schools closing, one parent can look after several children allowing others to work.

This afternoon there are 22 cases of coronavirus in the Alpes-Maritimes and 9 in the Var.

Despite a number of high-profile cancellations due to the virus, it’s expected that the first round of local elections will go ahead this weekend with polls open on Sunday from 8am.

BUSINESS

Stock markets have recovered today after yesterdays plunge over fears of an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the economic effect of the coronavirus. Most markets are up by at least 2%.

In Italy, mortgage payments are to be suspended in a measure to soften the blow of the quarantine on households across the country. Italy's banking lobby has also said lenders will offer debt holidays to small firms.

SPORT

Football - Spanish league games are the latest to be closed to fans and be played behind closed doors. The move is a safety measure already put in place in France and Italy. Barcelona's Champions League match against Napoli on 18 March will also be played at an empty Nou Camp.

Boxing - Anthony Joshua's world title fight against Kubrat Pulev is ‘not going to happen behind closed doors’ according to the fights promoter. He said boxing is unique in the role fans play in making a fighter peak during a match.