Evening Update 13 March

Many cinemas, theatres and restaurants are likely to close as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe reduced the number of people allowed to congregate from 1,000 down to just 100. The Prime Minister reiterated President Macron’s statement last night, saying France will do all it can to slow down the progress of the virus.

Monaco is to follow France and close schools until further notice. The decision was taken following several meetings with health and medical professionals. The government also announced that pharmacies in the Principality will now be allowed to make and sell their own hydro-alcoholic hand gel.  

The city of Nice is to put in place a dedicated tele-medicine platform, with voluntary contracted doctors, to relieve pressure on hospitals and also the 15 emergency helpline. Operators there are trying to handle up to 1,600 calls a day, with an average wait of 18 minutes so speak with an agent. The city also announced that Maison de Retrait retirement homes are to be equipped with computers and dedicated internet connections, to allow residents interact with their families.

This morning at CHU Nice, a patient with an existing long medical history and serious medical conditions, who also diagnosed with coronavirus, has died. This is the first death related to the virus across the Alpes-Maritimes region.

BUSINESS

France’s Finance Minister has emphasized the State will take care of ‘technical unemployment’ for French people losing work due to the coronavirus. He said the government will do all that is necessary and even more to support the economy and businesses, despite the cost to the state.

Across Europe, the EU are also increasing efforts to try to stave off economic effects with a €37 billion euro packet of measures in place.

Markets have become increasingly volatile with record falls yesterday balanced by soaring stocks today.

SPORT

The list of sporting cancellations continues with Rugby’s Top 14 and Pro D2 leagues being the latest to be suspended until April. The Paris to Nice Cycle Race is also to end pre-maturely at La Colmiane tomorrow Saturday.

It’s now official that the UK’s Premiere soccer leagues are suspended until April 3rd as are leagues in France, Spain and Italy.

UEFA has postponed next week's Champions League and Europa League fixtures, test cricket in Sri Lanka is off, as is the Golf's Players Championship in Florida.

As Formula 1 cancels the Australia, Vietnam and Bahrain Grand Prix’s, all eyes are on Monaco, where organisers say the Grand Prix is still scheduled to go ahead. The race is not due to happen until late May and the hope is the current crisis will have passed by then. However the Automobile Club de Monaco who host the race say they are fully aware of the current situation and continue to work with government and sport authorities.