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News Numbers continue to decline - The number of Covid patients hospitalized in critical care continued to decline on Monday, May 17th, while the total number of hospitalisations was at its lowest for six months, according to figures from Public Health France. To date critical care services count 4,186 patients. In total, 22,749 people are hospitalized for Covid, a total at its lowest since the end of October 2020. AstraZeneca vaccine - According to a new report from the health authorities in France released on Monday, four new cases of thrombosis associated with the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, including two deaths, occurred in France between April 23rd and May 6th. Since the start of vaccination with AstraZenca the report shows that there have been "34 cases, including 11 deaths in total" of rare thrombosis which have occurred in France, out of more than 4,068,000 injections carried out by May 6th. Vaccination campaign - To date nearly 21 million French people have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine since the start of the vaccination campaign in France and 8,970,230 people have received two injections. French President Emmanuel Macron has set a target of 30 million first-time injections by mid-June. France’s Health Minister says that the vaccination of children against Covid is not to be rushed – Meanwhile France’s Health Minister Olivier Véran, has said that he does not want to "go too fast" on the vaccination of children. Speaking on BFMTV on Monday evening the minister said that the priority was for adults to be vaccinated before adding that the vaccination of under 18s against Covid will be done "perhaps" but "not straight away”. Veran concluded that while the first studies from the laboratories on messenger RNA vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, show that they are safe and effective. France still needs more information as well as authorization from the European agency and authorization from the French health authorities. And then it can be considered”. Progressive end to lockdown - Tomorrow Wednesday 19th May, marks the next stage to the end of lockdown in France with the curfew pushed back to 9pm while shops, terraces and cultural places will reopen with a strict health protocol and the return of the public to stadiums. The curfew, which was introduced in mid-October will be moved to 9pm. Non-essential businesses, closed since March 19th in 16 departments and throughout France since April 3rd, will reopen with a reinforced health protocol set at 8 square meters per customer. The terraces of restaurants, cafes and bars, closed since the start of the second lockdown at the end of October, will reopen throughout France with a strict health protocol: 50% of their capacity, tables of six people maximum and obligation to stay sitting down. The inside of restaurants, cafes and bars will remain closed until June 9th, when the third stage of the end to lockdown plan will be accompanied by a relaxation of the rules for terraces, which can reopen entirely. Cinemas, theaters and museums will once again be able to welcome the public with limited capacity and a reinforced health protocol. And the public will also make a comeback in sports stadiums with 800 people indoors and 1,000 outdoors. In other news French government allocates one billion euros for sustainable housing - France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex has allocated one billion euros for sustainable housing. Speaking to French media the Prime Minister said that “France must, at all costs, move forward in promoting sustainable construction” adding that it is the Head of State’s wish to provide "accommodation, within everyone's reach, but also to be housed in a new framework which is that of an ecological transition". Road accident on Promenade des Anglais - One person has been slightly injured following an accident on the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice, on Monday evening, shortly after 9 p.m. According to eye witnesses a car collided with another vehicle before hitting four parked vehicles and an electricity pole. Three young girls are said to have got out of the car before fleeing. Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward. Strike action – The SNCF of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur has announced strike action today, Tuesday 18th May. Unions are against the introduction of cameras to replace controllers. They claim that over the last year the absence of controllers, (who effectively assist with the departure of trains and are there to help if an incident occurs during the journey) is resulting in drivers having to take on these responsibilities. They are also against the reduction in station managers normally present in Menton, Nice Ville, Antibes, Cannes and Saint-Raphaël, who are now only present in Ventimiglia. And the regional postal service has also announced strike action in protest aga |
