A French pharmacy organization has said that currently almost one in three tests for Covid-19 at pharmacies are positive. Speaking on Franceinfo, Phillipe Besset, who is President of the Pharmaceutical Unions of France said that between 400,000 and 450,000 tests per day are being carried out in French pharmacies, which he said is about the same level as last summer. He added that they are at their maximum number without calling for extra assistance.
The forest fires which broke out in the Alpes-Maritimes over the past few days have now all been brought under control. The fires in Valdeblore, Gorbio, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey and near Utelle were brought under control by the use of water bombing aircraft and large deployments of firefighters and fire fighting equipment. Local authorities had warned of the danger of fires last week because of the recent dry and windy conditions.
Protest have been held over the weekend outside two police barracks in Corsica. Reports in French media say that several officers were injured in the clashes at barracks in Ajaccio and Bastia. The demonstrators claim that some members of the CRS riot police sang the Marseillaise at the funeral of Corsican seperatist Yvan Colonna on Friday.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has inaugurated the Salon Agecotel, a trade show for professionals in the restaurant and catering sector. The event is in its 30th edition this year. More than 17,000 visitors are expected at the show which is being held at the Palais des Expositions until Wednesday.
SNCF Reseau is carrying out replacement of train track in the municipalities of Cannes and Vallauris. The work takes place at night, from 10 pm to 6 am, excluding weekends, from today and is currently planned to end on 23 April. Replacement of the track can only be carried out in the absence of any rail traffic, between 10 p.m., after the last train and 6 a.m., the time of the first train in the morning. SNCF said that it and its partner companies are taking all measures to limit the nuisance associated with the work.
BUSINESS
China has started to implement a lockdown in Shanghai. The lockdown is China's largest since the pandemic began and is expected to be in place for just over a week. A large Covid-19 testing campaign is also underway. The move comes as the city experinces a large Covid-19 outbreak. Reports say that nobody is being allowed to leave the city unless they can produce a negative test result.
Danish brewer Heineken has announced that that it will leave Russia and is aiming for an orderly transfer of its Russian business to a new owner. The company said that it is "shocked and deeply saddened to watch the war in Ukraine continue to unfold and intensify". The company had previously announced that it had stopped new investments and exports to Russia, ended the production, sale and advertising of the Heineken brand, and announced that it would not accept any net financial benefits or profits from its business in Russia. It said today that it has concluded that Heineken’s ownership of the business in Russia is "no longer sustainable nor viable in the current environment".
SPORT
Cricket... Joe Root has reiterated that he would like to remain as England captain after the defeat by West Indies. Root has been captain since 2017 and has now led the side during four series defeats in a row.
Football... A large number of international friendly matches are taking place today and tomorrow. This evening Andorra take on Grenada and Montenegro play Greece. The four UK national teams are all in action tomorrow, with England playing Ivory Coast, Scotland playing Austria, Wales against the Czech Republic and Nothern Ireland playing Hungary. The Republic of Ireland are at home to Lithuania.
President Macron has visited the victims of yesterday's attack in Annecy in hospital in Grenoble and in Annecy. He said afterwards that the news regar.
