French and Riviera News Tuesday 31st August 2021

News 

Compulsory teleworking ends from today in France - The French government has announced the end of compulsory teleworking, which had been imposed on companies to fight against the health crisis. The measure will take effect from today Tuesday, August 31st. France’s employment minister confirmed that there will no longer be a "minimum number of days" of teleworking set by the state in companies.  The new protocol will allow "company management, in discussion with employee representatives, to define the rules for teleworking".

Covid incidence rate drops below 400 - Figures published by Public Health France have shown that the covid incidence rate in the Alpes Maritimes has dropped below 400. The region had seen the rate rise rapidly in July reaching 758 positive cases per 100,000 habitants, a record since the start of the pandemic.

7 out of 10 people in the region are now fully vaccinated and more than 78% of the region’s population have now received at least one dose. According to Public Health France, there is an average of 4 new deaths per day in the Alpes-Maritimes. In total, the coronavirus has claimed 2,077 victims in the department since the start of the epidemic (1,624 in hospitals, 453 in nursing homes). 

President of PACA region tests positive for covid - The president of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region Renaud Muselier has tested positive for covid despite being fully vaccinated. Muselier made the announcement in a tweet on Monday August 30th, he has since self-isolated and has cancelled all public engagements.

Health Minister hails health pass as a success - Meanwhile as the health pass became an obligation for some 1,8 million employees on Monday August 30th, France’s Minister of Health Olivier Véran, has hailed it as a “success”. Speaking to French media Véran defended the implementation of the health pass in France adding that “France has since inspired many countries to follow suit”. When asked about the extension of the health pass beyond November 15th, the Minister did not exclude it. He said that it “will depend on the health situation at the time”.

Failure to present health pass - At present failure to present a valid health pass in a place where it is required may result in a fine of at least 135 euros. A sanction which can go up to 6 months of imprisonment and 3750 euros fine in certain cases. The police have carried out some 179,000 checks and issued 1,331 fines since the introduction of the pass on June 9th.

Kate Powers has passed away - And we have some very sad news today. One of the best-known figures in Monaco, Kate Powers, the co-founder of StarsNBars, passed away on Monday morning after a brief illness. Kate and her family moved to Monaco from the United States in the late 1950's. In the 1980's, along with her brother Mike Powers, she opened the famous Le Texan restaurant. This was later followed by the creation of StarsNBars on the Port of Monaco with her partner Didier Rubiolo. She was also actively involved in a wide range of ecological and climate change initiatives. Kate was a charismatic and highly respected personality in the Monaco community and will be greatly missed by many people on the Riviera. We at Riviera Radio send our deepest condolences to Kate's family and many friends. Details of a memorial service are expected to be announced in due course.

Region’s train network - Major works have got underway on railway infrastructure in our region, meaning that there'll be changes to train services between Nice and Ventimiglia in both directions right through until April 2nd next year. The works involve reinforcement of the Villefranche-sur-Mer tunnel and renewal of the track in the Cimiez tunnel. Train traffic can only be carried on one track between Nice and Eze-sur-Mer throughout the work period and timetables are being modified accordingly. You can find out more information and timetables on the SNCF ASSISTANT app or on the SNCF TER SUD website.

Globetrotter arrives home - Former journalist Florence Renault has arrived home in Orleans after hitchhiking around the world. The 36-year-old globe trotter had left her job and home back in 2013, to achieve her dream and has since travelled 250,000 km and crossed 60 countries. Florence set off with 20,000 euros in savings and set herself a budget of 10 euros per day. She now plans to resume her profession as a journalist and write a book about her travels.

Business

McDonald’s and other fast food firms in the United States are closing indoor seating areas or limiting hours of ope