News
Covid latest figures in France - As France entered a third lockdown at the weekend due to the spread of Covid the latest figures from Public Health France show that there were 185 deaths in the last 24 hours. 29,356 people are currently hospitalised with 1,224 new admissions on Sunday. 5,341 are in intensive care with 240 new admissions in the last 24 hours. 9.2 million people have been vaccinated with 3.1 million having received both doses of the vaccine.
Mobile app for unused doses of Covid vaccine - Meanwhile the 'Covidliste' mobile phone application has been launched in France connecting people who wish to be vaccinated, even non-priority ones, with professionals in possession of unused doses that must be consumed quickly. French media has reported cases where doses have been wasted because there weren't enough appointments filled. The Covidliste aims to stop this by putting French people in touch with vaccination centres that have unused doses, due to the cancellation of an appointment, but which must still be used, or they will have to be thrown away.
New travel certificate - The new travel certificate was put online by the Ministry of Interior on Saturday 3rd April and It must be presented in case of a police control, for any movement more than 10 kilometers from your home there is an exceptional tolerance over the weekend and until this evening due to Easter weekend allowing those who wish to isolate elsewhere to be able to do so.
The travel certificate is mandatory during the day between 6am and 7pm for travel beyond 10 kilometers from your home and for all travel between 7pm and 6am.
Fines - On its website, the ministry states that failure to comply with the regulations in place can result in a fine of 135 euros, increasing to 375 euros (in the event of non-payment).
In the event of a repeat offense within 15 days: a fine of 200 euros, which can increase to 450 euros (in the event of non-payment) and following 3 offenses in a 30-day period: a fine of 3,750 euros punishable by 6 months imprisonment.
French government hopes to stick to the four weeks - French government spokesman Gabriel Attal has announced that "at this stage it is not planned that the lockdown measures will go beyond four weeks”. Speaking to French media on Sunday he declared that the “French government believes that everyone's efforts will make it possible to keep to the current schedule". Attal added that it’s possible that French President Emmanuel Macron is likely to again, address the French "by the end of April”.
Police intervene after party held near Aix-en-Provence - At least 15 people have been fined following a party at the weekend, held during the curfew, which saw 150 people gather near Aix en Provence. The party took place on Saturday evening in a disused hanger. Police were alerted by residents and several people were charged for violating health rules.
Mont-Boron - Meanwhile 12 people were fined after holding a party in Mont Boron in Nice at the weekend. They were charged with failure to provide a valid attestation and not respecting the current curfew.
French government suggest QR code - The French government has suggested that a QR code is a possibility instead of a proposed “health passport” for visitors to restaurants, once businesses reopen. It is not yet clear exactly what details the QR codes would contain or communicate and tt this point it’s not yet been discussed as to whether their use will be obligatory.
Home Covid testing kits - Home Covid testing kits are to go on sale from April 12th in French pharmacies. The tests are done by nasal swab. However, France’s Health Authority has confirmed that any positive home tests will need to be confirmed by a proper RT-PCR test.
In other news
Air France - France’s Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has announced an agreement in principle with the European Commission "on new financial support" for Air France. Speaking on Sunday Bruno Le Maire said that "the amount will be discussed with Air France. There will be an Air France board of directors which must validate the principles of the agreement”. The airline has already received financial support during the crisis.
Accident - Three people have been injured after a collision between a motorcyclist and a group of cyclists. The incident occurred on Sunday morning in Collobrières. Two of the injured were taken to hospital in Toulon suffering serious injuries. The cause of the collision is still to be determined by police.
Car set on fire in Le Lavandou - Five vehicles have been vandalized and one set on fire in the early hours of Sunday morning in La Lavandou in the Var. Local residents alerted police and an investigation has been launched into the reason behind the acts of vandalism.
Business
Businessman and former Adidas owner Bernard Tapie and his wife have been attacked in a violent burglary at their estate near Paris. The couple were tied up with electrical cords, physically assaulted and robbed of their jewellery.
78-year-old Bernard Tapie was briefly a government minister from 1992 to 1993 in France, Tapie was also owner of the Olympique de Marseille football club as well as taking over several newspapers and a career in acting, singing and hosting radio and television shows. Tapie has been at the centre of legal battles concerning corruption and fraud for decades and spent time in jail.
France’s Finance Minister has warned that a fresh lockdown in France will dent economic growth this year, but it is too early to say by how much. Amid concerns that increasing infection rates across much of continental Europe will slow the recovery from the pandemic, Le Maire indicated that a forecast of 6% GDP growth this year may need to be revised downwards.
And - The UK government is to trial a series of measures, including Covid passports, to allow the safe return of sports matches, events and nightclubs.
Passes would show if a person had been vaccinated, had a recent negative test, or natural immunity. Trial events in the coming months will also explore how ventilation and testing before and after could help crowds return.
Sport
Football – In the English Premier League this weekend on Saturday, Chelsea lost 2-5 at home against West Brom. Leeds beat Sheffield United 2-1. Manchester City beat Leicester 2-0 and Arsenal lost at home to Liverpool 3-0.
On Sunday Southampton beat Burnley 3-2, Newcastled drew 2-2 against Tottenham, Aston Villa beat Fulham 3-1 and Manchester United beat Brighton 2-1. This evening Everton play Crystal Palace and Wolves face West Ham
Boat Race - Cambridge continued their recent dominance of the Boat Race, winning both the men's and women's contests. There was a change of scenery for the first time in 185 years in Sunday’s Boat Race due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the race being moved from the Thames to Ely in Cambridgeshire.
The women's team triumphed first on Sunday, earning their fourth straight win, by less than a length. And the Cambridge's men followed suit, with victory in the 166th staging of the race by less than a length as well.
Rugby Union - Bristol were knocked out of the Champions Cup after being overpowered by Bordeaux-Begles, who will host Racing 92 in the quarter-finals.
Formula One - Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg says sport must embrace purpose, and that F1 needs to do more. Rosberg, 35, believes football should promote important issues, such as sustainability, with F1 focusing on synthetic fuels.
Weather
Clear skies are forecast across the region with highs of 17 degrees in Nice, Cannes and Antibes with a gentle breeze. Gusty winds are forecast for the Var with highs of 17 in Saint Tropez. This evening going down to 11 degrees with clear skies.
Outlook for Tuesday, becoming increasing cloudy with temperatures reaching 16 degrees and rain with highs of 13 degrees are forecast for Wednesday.
And Finally
A recent poll has revelaed that those that have a grey kitchen are the best cooks. The poll showed that those who describe themselves as accomplished cooks are most likely to have a grey kitchen (14 per cent), while only one per cent of those with a blue kitchen see themselves as confident with the pots and pans.
Smartphone firm OPPO, which questioned 4,000 Britons on their choice of colours, also found that top earners mainly wear white, grouchy people can often be found in checked shirts, and owners of black cars see themselves as high achievers.
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