French and Riviera News Friday 21st August 2020

Local

The Alpes Maritimes crosses the threshold but remains on a “moderate vigilance” for the circulation of Covid-19 - According to Public Health France, the Alpes Maritimes region has crossed the threshold of 50 positive cases for Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants. On Thursday, the frequency rate, calculated over the last 7 days, was exactly 59.8 while the average in France is 28.

Nonetheless these figures have not led to the region passing into "high vigilance" concerning the circulation of Covid-19, as is the case for regions such as the Bouches de Rhone (98.6), Paris (79.6), with the Alpes Maritimes remaining on a “moderate vigilance” for the time being.

According to data from Public Health France, the positivity rate for tests remained moderate on Thursday in the Alpes Maritimes, at 1.3% against for example 4.3% in Paris, or 7.1% in Marseille.

On Thursday 21st August 69 people positive for Covid-19 were hospitalized in the Alpes-Maritimes, including one person in intensive care.

Two new cases of coronavirus in Monaco – Meanwhile two new cases of Covid-19 were declared in Monaco on Thursday August 20th, both are residents.

Under guidelines from the World Health Organisation and France, the daily report will now distinguish between residents and non-residents affected by the coronavirus.

The Principality's health record to date stands at 102 residents affected by the coronavirus, with an additional 48 non-residents also affected.

One resident is in intensive care and two other non-residents are hospitalized.

Since the start of the health crisis, one resident has died in the Principality, as have three non-residents.

The total of those cured stands at 82 patients among residents and 33 among non-residents.

Coronavirus cases – On a national level France on Thursday evening confirmed that the last 24 hours had marked a new record in coronavirus cases at the fastest daily rate since May.

Almost 4,777 Covid-19 infections were confirmed in the past 24 hours by the French public health body.

Germany with France has recorded its worst daily infection rate with concerns that cases could spike in Europe as holiday makers return home and children go back to school.

Making masks compulsory in Nice - Following the introduction of masks being made compulsory throughout the city of Nice on Thursday 20th August “many locals have shown to be in favour of the move” as an “additional precaution against Covid-19”.

The new measure making the mask compulsory throughout the city only applies to people over 11-year-old, from 8am to midnight and is also to be respected by beach goers in Nice. It is currently in place until September 20th failure to comply can lead to a fine of 135 euros.

24-year-old killed in road accident - A 24-year-old has been killed in a road accident in the Var. The accident occurred on Thursday afternoon at around 4 p.m. on the D554 at the exit of Méounes in the direction of Belgentier.

Police have opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident.

A8 motorway closed following collision – Meanwhile the A8 motorway was closed on Thursday lunchtime after a serious accident at the Le Muy junction in the direction towards Aix en Provence. A car and a motorcycle were in a collision and one of the drivers involved was airlifted to hospital by helicopter. The motorway was reopened shortly afterwards.

Fake raffle tickets - There have been reports of fake raffle tickets being sold in Draguignan, in the Var. The tickets, which look authentic, claim to be for a raffle by the Sporting Club of Draguignan. However, the club says that no raffle has been organised.

French Prime Minister to visit President at Fort Brégançon today - France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex is to join President Emmanuel Macron at Fort Brégançon in the Var today. According to the Elysee the Prime Minister is to participate in a weekly work meeting with the President of the Republic.

Castex’s visit come a day after the German Chancellor was welcomed by Macron at the presidential summer home, with whom he notably discussed EU border controls, Brexit and climate change.

Paris-Saint Germain football shirt banned on streets of Marseille on Sunday for the Champions League Final - The police prefect of the Bouches du Rhone has introduced a ban on wearing the PSG football shirt in central Marseille on Sunday 23rd August. 

The Champions League final between PSG and Bayern Munich is set to take place on Sunday evening. It’s a historic final for the Parisian club which has never reached this stage of the competition but authorities fear a PSG victory could lead to incidents with supporters in Marseille and have therefore introduce the ban which is punishable with a fine of 30,000 euros, six months in prison and a stadium ban.

National

Health protocol for schools in France - The health protocol for the start of the school year is being strengthened. The Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, has announced that the health protocol for the start of the school year is being strengthened. The wearing of a mask will be "systematic" in college and high school in closed spaces, for teachers and students, even when the rules of physical distancing can be respected.

The Minister of Education ruled out a general postponement of the start of the school year due to the increase in Covid-19 contaminations even if "local exceptions" could be considered.

Vaccine - French President Emmanuel Macron has said that there were "reasonable prospects" of obtaining a vaccine against the coronavirus "in the coming months". Macron made the comments during a joint press conference on Thursday with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Fort

Brégançon, in the Var. The Head of State added that "This will not solve the problem of the next few weeks, but the next few months."

Business

Official figures have shown that the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed back above one million last week.

The US Labor Department said claims rose to 1.1 million, ahead of economists' forecasts of 925,000.

The rise came as US President Donald Trump faces increased pressure over his handling of the health crisis.

Coronavirus infections continue to spread across the US, prompting local authorities to restrict businesses.

 

Cosmetics firm Estee Lauder has said that it is to cut up to 2,000 staff after the coronavirus pandemic caused a hit to sales.

The company, which includes the M.A.C and Too Faced makeup brands, said it was to invest in its online sales operations after stores were hit by global lockdowns and demand dried up through customers staying at home.

And - UK tourists will no longer need to quarantine after holidaying in Portugal, but travellers returning from Croatia will have to self-isolate.

The UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said people will need to self-isolate for 14 days on returning from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago.

The changes apply to anyone arriving after 04:00 BST on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Scottish government has added Switzerland to its list of countries requiring quarantine.

Sport

Football - Champions Liverpool will face Championship winners Leeds United in the standout opening weekend game of the 2020-2021 Premier League seasonChampionship play-off winners Fulham will host Arsenal, while West Bromwich Albion, the third promoted side, are at home to Leicester City.

The opening round of fixtures will take place on the weekend of 12 September.

Cricket - Captain Joe Root has asked his England team for "one big push" in the third and final Test against Pakistan.

The International Test Match series starts today in Southampton at 11am UK time.

Tennis - Novak Djokovic has said that one of the reasons he decided to play the US Open was to help the sport "keep going".

Djokovic is in New York preparing for the Grand Slam event which takes place from 31 August in New York.

Weather

Clear skies and sunshine with highs of 29 degrees in Monaco and Nice, 30 degrees in Cannes reaching up to 33 degrees in Saint Tropez in the Var with a light variable breeze.

This evening going down to 21 degrees along the coast in the Alpes Maritimes and 19 in the Var with clear skies

The outlook for the weekend fine on Saturday with highs of 38 degrees in the Var some cloud forecast on Sunday with highs of between 30-35 degrees.

 

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