The Covid-19 incidence rate in the Alpes-Maritimes has fallen below 100 for the first time since last October. Figures published by Sante Publique France show an incidence rate of 97.7 per 100,000 people for the week from 30 April to 6 May. The equivalent figure for the Var is 152.3 and for the whole of France is 191.7. As regards hospital numbers, as of yesterday, 59 people were in intensive care with Covid-19 in the Alpes-Maritimes, compared with 130 in the middle of March.
Health Minister Olivier Veran confirmed this morning that terraces of cafes, bars and restaurants will reopen on 19 May. He said that the current conditions allow it as the epedemic "continues to decline and the pressure on hospitals is diminishing". He added that over 3.2 million vaccinations have been carried out in the past week, including over 450,000 this weekend alone, which he said is a new record. Speaking on French television the minister also said that vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine will "probably" not be extended to those under 55 years old.
He added that there are less than 5,000 COVID patients in intensive care nationally, which he said "allows us today to gradually lift the braking measures by continuing to vaccinate on a large scale".
In other news, Jean Castex and Gerald Darmanin will attend a ceremony in Avignon tomorrow to pay tribute to the police officer killed in the town last week. One person was arrested this morning in connection with the killing and three others were arrested yesterday.
Meteo France have a yellow warning for storms in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. In the Var it's from 9pm this evening to 4pm tomorrow and in the Alpes-Maritimes from midnight tonight to 4pm tomorrow. The Alpes-Maritimes is also under a yellow warning for heavy rain and flooding until 4pm tomorrow.
In the Var, state services receiving the public will be exceptionally closed this Thursday 13 and Friday 14 May. That includes the Toulon prefecture and the sub-prefectures of Brignoles and Draguignan. You can get further details of opening hours of state services in the department this week on the Prefecture's website http://www.var.gouv.fr/accueil-du-public-dans-les-services-de-l-etat-a8462.html
The Police Prefecture is drawing the attention of the public to it's online lost and found service. "PPbot" aims to unite people with their lost objects and has achieved a success rate of almost 30%. The service sends items directly to your home and can send them around the world, with 3% of item shipments going outside mainland France. More details about the service can be found at https://objetstrouvesprefecturedepolice.franceobjetstrouves.fr/
BUSINESS
UK bakery retailer Greggs has said that it has seen a strong recovery in sales in recent weeks following the easing of restrictions across the UK. It said that "considerable uncertainty" remains but profits for the year could be "around 2019 levels", which is more than previously forecast. It had said previously that it did not expect profits to return to pre-Covid levels until 2022 at the earliest. In March, Greggs reported its first full year loss in 36 years after a fall in sales due to the pandemic.
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has said that it expects economic growth of 5.7% in the UK this year, up from the 3.4% it forecast in February. It now expects unemployment to peak at 6.5% later this year, down from it's previous estimate of 7.5%.
SPORT
Football... Reports say that Uefa is set to decide by Wednesday whether to switch the Champions League final to Wembley from Istanbul because of travel restrictions. Chelsea are playing Manchester City in the final on 29 May but the Championship play-off final is currently scheduled to be held at Wembley on the same day. A meeting is being held today involving Uefa, UK government officials and the Football Association to discuss the way forward.
There’s one game in the English Premier League tonight. Fulham will be relegated if they fail to beat Burnley at Craven Cottage.
Cricket... Pakistan have beaten Zimbabwe, winning by an innings and 147 runs.
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