The Monaco government has announced new health measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic which will be in force until December 20. Starting tomorrow, Saturday November 27, there will once again be the obligation to wear a mask outdoors, at all times and everywhere in the Principality.
From Monday, November 29 the validity of PCR tests is reduced from 72 to 24 hours. Remote work is highly recommended in the private and public sectors. Standing cocktails and all standing drinks in establishments will be suspended as will dance and karaoke activities in establishments offering them. Wearing a mask has been reinstated for indoor sports (except for competitions) and for school sports. School swimming lessons are suspended as are combat and contact sports.
Certain measures originally planned for the 1 st of December are being brought forward to Monday, November 29. From that date everyone must present a valid health pass to consume inside and on the terrace of restaurants and bars. This also applies to young people aged 16 to 18. The health pass will also be required to access performance halls and meeting spaces as soon as there are more than 300 people. This concerns, in particular, the Opera, the Princess Grace Theatre and the Grimaldi Forum.
Given the epidemic rebound, the Monaco government said that it plans, from December 15, to extend the obligation of the health pass to all people who work in places where the pass is required for the public who access it. This concerns restaurants, bars, nightclubs, as well as the Stade Louis II, the Grimaldi Forum and the Opera in particular.
The French government has announced the cancellation of all flights from several countries in southern Africa because of a new Covid-19 variant. Minister of Health Olivier Veran said this afternoon that flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini are suspended with immediate effect for at least 48 hours. Several other countries, including the UK have taken similar action. The government of Belgium announced this afternoon that a case of the variant had been found in the country. The European Commission held discussions with member states today to explore the possibility of implementing an EU-wide ban on flights from southern Africa. This evening Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer Tweeted "Member States agreed to introduce rapidly restrictions on all travel into the EU from 7 countries in the Southern Africa region: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe".
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has written to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel withdrawing her invitation to a meeting about the cross-channel migrant situation. It follows UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sending an open letter via Twitter to President Macron saying that France should take back migrants who had crossed to the UK. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the European Commission will still be attending the meeting scheduled for Sunday.
The Municipal Police in Nice and the City of Nice hygiene department have conducted an operation on Boulevard Raimbaldi to sanction those who continue to sell alcohol to individuals who are already inebriated. Two administrative closures were made and a formal notice was issued.
The Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has today inaugurated two buildings of the Nouvel'R complex at Grand Arénas. The development includes a first building comprising accommodation, student and tourist residences, a 4-star hotel and shops, and a second providing offices, a co-working space, as well as a car park. The mayor said that the sector is "at the heart of our desire to strengthen the development of business tourism" and said that this will be made possible by strengthening the hotel offer as well as the future Exhibition and Congress Centre.
The City of Cannes is opening a social and solidarity grocery store. The sixty square metre store, located at the CCAS, at 19 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny in Cannes will be open three half-days a week from January and will provide non-perishable food and other products at very low prices for the disadvantaged. The space also aims to promote social inclusion. David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes said that the sales area "will be a real place to listen, exchange and share to break the isolation."
The International Olympic Committe World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport is taking place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco until tomorrow. The conference is a major international gathering for those interested in clinical aspects of sports and exercise medicine.
Meteo France are forecasting an accumulation of snow of 60 to 80 cm in the Alps above 1000m this weekend as a cold snaps hits many areas of France. It said that on Saturday and Sunday, several disturbances will cross the country, in very cold temperatures. They will bring some snowfall to the plains in the northeastern regions from Friday night to Saturday and heavy snowfall in the mountains. The first snow will fall in the mountains from 400m on the Alps and the Massif Central, and 600m on the Pyrenees. In coastal areas of the Var, the Alpes-Maritimes and in Monaco, it's expected that we will escape the worst of the cold weather with temperatures reaching highs of about 12 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.
BUSINESS
Stock markets have fallen sharply today on fears over the new covid variant. Shares in airlines and travel firms were among the hardest hit and shares in many oil companies also fell as the price of crude declined. The UK and other nations have introduced a ban on flights from several southern African countries.
The Swiss economy expanded by 1.7% in the third quarter. The figure was less than the 2.0% expected by analysts. Swiss GDP grew by 1.8% in the second quarter.
SPORT
Motorsports... Formula 1 has renewed its deal with the Spanish Grand Prix until 2026. The organisers have agreed to upgrade the race track and facilities in time for next year's grand prix.
Cricket... Pat Cummins has been named as Australia's Test captain for the Ashes, with former skipper Steve Smith as his deputy. Smith was previously sacked as captain in 2018 for his part in illegal ball-tampering. The Ashes series begins on 8 December.
New Zealand have had a good second day in the first Test against India. Tim Southee took 5-69 and openers Will Young and Tom Latham hit unbeaten half-centuries. At the end of the day India were 345 all out and New Zealand were 129 for no loss.
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Nice airport says as many as 60% of flights will be cancelled tomorrow due to a nationwide strike by air traffic controllers....
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