In Corsica, the Prefect of the Haute-Corse department has announced that establishments open to the public such as bars and restaurants will have to close at midnight from 1 August. Night clubs are exempted. Amongst other measures announced by the Prefect, gatherings of more than ten people on beaches and in outdoor public spaces will be prohibited after 9pm as from tomorrow, 27 July. Mask wearing will also be mandatory in certain crowded areas. The incidence rate in the Haute-Corse is at about 700 and the Prefect said that the health situation is "deteriorating day by day everywhere in Corsica".
The controversial French health bill providing for the extension of the health pass, the compulsory vaccination of caregivers and the strengthening of isolation has been adopted by the French parliament. Health Minister Olivier Veran said it was a "good evening for democracy, bad for the virus". Prime Minister Jean Castex has referred the bill to the Constitutional Council which has said it will give its opinion on 5 August. The provisions of the bill, including the extension of the health pass to such areas as restaurants and long distance travel, will therefore not come into force before that date.
President Macron has said that 40 million people have received at least one vaccine dose in France. Prime Minister Jean Castex has said that the next target will be to reach 50 million by the end of August.
The municipality of Antibes Juan-les-Pins has said that vaccination appointments are possible at the Antibes vaccination centre within 24 hours for people aged over 50. Appointments can be made in person at the centre at the Maison des Associations, 288 chemin de St Claude.
The Var Prefecture has reminded everyone that eight temporary testing centres are open in the Var. They are located in Toulon, Hyères, Draguignan, Valletta, Bandol, Saint-Raphaël and Saint-Julien. You can find more details at www.var.gouv.fr
The French Minister in charge of Public Accounts, Olivier Dussopt, has been in our region today. This morning he signed an instruction asking customs officers to increase the frequency of health checks. He visisted the La Turbie toll booths to discuss the new roles of customs in terms of health checks and also visited customs officers at Nice Cote d'Azur airport.
The PACA regional Health Agency has reminded those who are going abroad on holiday that there are two useful websites to consult. The travel advice section of the French government diplomatic website gives information about the epidemic situation at your destination https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/ The government health website also gives recommendations for travellers https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/prevention-en-sante/preserver-sa-sante/pour-un-ete-sans-soucis/article/pour-des-vacances-sereines-a-l-etranger
A 54 year old diver has died in Marseille this morning. Marine firefighters attempted to resucitate the victim who had suffered cardio-respiratory arrest in on Frioul Island.
The Prefect of the Var has introduced water restriction measures for the municipalities of Plan d'Aups, Riboux and Saint-Zacharie. Details can be found on var.gouv.fr
The Classic Parc Orchestra concert in Villeneuve-Loubet tomorrow has been cancelled. The municipality said it does not wish to exclude spectators without a health pass and said that information concerning the holding or the cancellation of shows for the month of August will be communicated on the Ville de Villeneuve-Loubet Facebook page.
The Esterel maritime shuttle service is running again until the end of August. There are 4 daily round trips from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. between the ports of Cannes, La Napoule, Théoule-sur- Mer and La Figueirette. Distancing rules and barrier gestures are in operation. You can get more details at www.cannes.com
BUSINESS
Heathrow Airport has said that cumulative losses from COVID-19 have grown to £2.9bn. It said that fewer than 4 million people travelled through Heathrow in the first six months of 2021, a level that would have taken just 18 days to reach in 2019. It called recent changes to the government’s traffic light system "encouraging", but added that "expensive testing requirements and travel restrictions" are holding back the UK’s economic recovery and could see fewer passangers using Heathrow in 2021 than in 2020.
Economic forecasting group the EY Item Club has said that the UK economy is growing at its fastest pace in 80 years. In a report released today the organization predicts GDP growth of 7.6% this year, which would be the fastest growth since 1941. 6.5% growth is expected next year. It expects the UK economy to return to its pre-pandemic peak by the end of this year, which is two quarters sooner than it expected in April. However, it said that consumer spending is crucial to economic recovery and the risk of a return of restrictions is still an unknown factor.
SPORT
Olympics... Divers Tom Daley and Matty Lee have won the synchronised 10m platform event and Adam Peaty retained his 100m breaststroke title. Tom Pidcock won gold in the men's mountain bike cross-country event. Great Britain's men's team sealed their place in the rugby sevens quarter-finals. Australia's Ariarne Titmus triumphed over five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m freestyle swimming. Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway claimed gold in the men's triathlon while Great Britain's Alex Yee won silver and New Zealand's Hayden Wilde took bronze.
Cricket... Three India players have been ruled out of the five-match series against England starting on 4 August. Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan are all out because of injury.
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