French and Riviera News Monday 31st August 2020

Local

Elderly lady dies after falling into lake - An elderly lady has died after falling into the L’Aréna lake in Roquebrune sur Argens. The incident occurred on Sunday shortly after 6.30pm. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact circumstances.

30-year-old seriously injured on electric scooter - Meanwhile a 30-year-old man has been seriously injured in a road accident in Nice on Sunday. The man who was riding an electric scooter at the time was involved in a collision with a motorist on the Boulevard de la Madeline shortly after 5.15pm. The victim was taken to the Pasteur hospital in Nice.

Coronavirus - One new case of Covid-19 has been declared in Monaco on Sunday bringing the total number of residents affected by the coronavirus in the Principality to 131. 2 people are currently in hospital and one resident is in intensive care 37 people are being cared for by the home monitoring centre.

On a national level Public health France announced on Sunday that 5,413 additional cases of Covid-19 had been registered in France a stable figure compared to the number of cases recorded on Saturday.

The number of people hosptialised also remains more or less stable with five new admissions in the last 24 hours as well as two in intensive care.

Masks made compulsory in the city of Toulon - Wearing a mask has been made compulsory in the city of Toulon. The measure introduced on Saturday follows in the footsteps of Marseille and Nice. In total 73 towns in the Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur region have made wearing a mask an obligation with 26 making it compulsory throughout their town or city.

Tour de France 3rd stage traffic diversions - The 3rd stage of the Tour de France takes place today in Nice. Traffic diversions and road closures will be in place in the west of the city as the race starts at 1pm at the Allianz Riviera. The stage will head towards Sisteron passing through Carros, Gattieres, Saint Jeannet and Vence. The good news is that the Promenade, the port and the city centre will be reopened after closure on Sunday due to the 2nd stage of the race.

National

Poll shows majority of French people are in favour of wearing a mask - According to a poll published in France on Sunday 76% of French are in favour of the mandatory wearing of a mask outdoors in all cities in France to fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.

The survey showed that the problem in the eyes of most respondents was having to pay for the masks for their children with 78% of those polled saying they would have preferred the mask to be free for all students, contrary to Prime Minister Jean Castex announcement.

Meanwhile 81% of French people said they were pessimistic about the economic growth in France and 54% said they did not trust Prime Minister Jean Castex to propose a good recovery plan for France which will be unveiled on Thursday, September 3rd.

Officer of the French Army under investigation - France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly has confirmed that an officer of the French army is the subject of legal proceedings. The officer stationed in a NATO center in Italy is suspected of having transmitted sensitive documents to the Russian secret services.

Men’s and Women’s fashion floors replaced with unisex – A branch of the Citadium fashion store in Paris has removed separate fashion floors for men and women to make way for unisex stands. The store does not say whether it intends to deploy this new layout in its other stores. However, it has not decided to do so on its website, which still strictly distinguishes between male and female departments.

Business

Some of the world's biggest airlines have called on the British and US governments to introduce testing at airports to end quarantine and help unlock £200billion in trade between the two nations. 

Earlier this month, Heathrow airport began offering tests to passengers for £150 in a move was hoped would put pressure on the British Government to lift quarantine measures.

The UK’s government “Eat Out to Help Out” discount ends today, having been praised by many of the restaurants, cafes and pubs it was designed to help.

Many say the scheme has successfully tempted more people to eat out again after lockdown was eased.

It has applied to sit-in meals and soft drinks, Monday to Wednesday in August, and can be used limitless times.

Research suggests trade on some days in the month was twice last year's levels.

And - It’s been reported that outsourcing firm Capita is to close over a third of its offices in the UK permanently.

The firm, which is a major government contractor, is to end its leases on almost 100 workplaces.

It comes as the UK government prepares to launch an advertising campaign encouraging more people to return to workplaces. 

Sport

Cycling – Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe has won stage two of the Tour de France to claim the yellow jersey in Nice on Sunday. Alaphilippe now leads the race by four seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Adam Yates because of time bonuses. Today’s 3rd stage leaves the Allianz Riviera in Nice at 1pm direction Sisteron.

Formula One – Hamilton took a dominant win in Sunday’s Belgium Grand Prix. Hamilton took his 5th victory in 7 races this year and the 89th of his career. Teammate Valtteri Bottas came 2nd with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clocking in 3rd.

Football – Man United are closing in on the signing of Donny Van de Beek. The transfer is expected to be finalized within days.

Tennis – France’s Benoit Paire has had his name removed from the US Open men’s draw on Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19. Paire will be replaced by the 149th ranked Spaniard Marcel Granollers.

Weather

Sunny intervals highs of 25 degrees in Monaco, Nice and Antibes with a moderate breeze. Clear skies in Saint Tropez and the Var with highs of 25 degrees.

This evening going down to 21 degrees with clear skies.

The outlook for Tuesday clear skies and highs of 25 degrees. Wednesday becoming increasingly cloudy with highs of 25 degrees.

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