President Macron has said that he wants at-risk professions to be vaccinated from mid-April. He confirmed that teachers would be part of the vaccination campaign, saying that from the middle to the end of April "more and more" vaccines will be arriving. He also announced that vaccination will be opened to those aged 70 to 74 without comorbidities from next Saturday. He added that a dedicated phone line would be opened for people over the age of 75 who haven't yet been able to be vaccinated. The President was speaking during a visit to a vaccination center and a pharmacy in Valenciennes in the Nord department this morning. His visit was intended to promote vaccination and the speeding up of the vaccination campaign.
Investigations have been opened after a man died in Nantes after receiving a covid-19 vaccine. Local reports say that the 26 year old medical student had received the AstraZeneca vaccine on 8 March and his body was found in his apartment on 18 March. The Regional Health Agency said that no link has been found between the vaccination and the death. Two investigations are underway, by the Nantes Prosecutor's Office and the national drug safety agency.
Locally, the Mayor of Menton, Jean-Claude Guibal, has taken steps to help local traders and customers with click and collect orders. From today, local traders are authorised to install a table in front of their premises to serve their customers. Physical access to stores is still prohibited but merchants can pick the items from their shelves and customers can place their orders on the internet and then collect their items from the retailer.
Four people are set to appear in court in Marseille tomorrow in connection with the unauthorised carnival held in the city's streets at the weekend. The prosecutor said that one other person who had been detained has now been released without charge.
Nice Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre has said that a website set up to show support for the police and to solicit ideas regarding policing has received almost 900 messages of support and ideas since its launch. The website, http://jesoutiensmapolice.nice.fr/ enables local residents to share their ideas on the functioning and the mission of the police and on the police / population relationship. The Deputy Mayor said that a document of suggestions will now be complied and sent by Christian Estrosi to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
BUSINESS
The unemployment rate has fallen in the UK for the first time since the pandemic began. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.0% in the three months to January down from 5.1% in the three months to December. However, the increase was less than analysts had expected and the number of people on company payrolls in February was 693,000 lower than last February, before the first lockdown.
The UK manufacturing outlook has improved in March according to a new survey. The CBI Industrial Trends Survey said that manufacturers expect output to pick up rapidly over the next three months, with expectations at their strongest since August 2017. The survey of 321 manufacturers found that output increased in the three months to March in eight out of 17 sub-sectors. Growth in the electronic engineering and plastic products sub-sectors was largely offset by declines in paper, printing & media and aerospace.
Cinema operator Cineworld has announced a deal with Warner Bros to show films in cinemas before they are streamed. Cineworld said that it aims to reopen some of its cinemas in the United States next month and in the UK in May.
SPORT
Cricket... India have won the first ODI of the three-match series against England by 66 runs. England collapsed from 135-0 to 251 all out. India were 317 for 5.
Motosports...The Williams Formula 1 team have appointed a new technical director. Francois-Xavier Demaison joins from Volkswagen. It's the first major appointment made by new Williams CEO Jost Capito.
Football... Former England striker Frank Worthington has died at the age of 72 following a long illness. He began his playing career at Huddersfield Town in 1966 and also played for Leicester City, Bolton, Birmingham City, Southampton, Leeds United and Sunderland as well as being manager at Tranmere Rovers.
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