Lunchtime News Friday 27th August 2021

News

Mayor of Nice condemns antivaxxers who entered vaccination centre in Nice - The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has announced that he will file a complaint after antivax activists tried to enter a vaccination center in Nice. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the vaccination center of the Palais des expositions in Nice.

In a video published on social networks activists were able to enter the Palais des Expositions, while others remained outside the building. Estrosi described the behavior as “unacceptable” in a tweet. According to the mayor the activists "tried to force access to the vaccination center" which led to "its temporary closure”.

Health Minister claims vaccination prevented the worst in the fourth wave of covid in France - France’s Health Minister Olivier Véran has said that vaccination against covid in mainland France has “prevented the worst”. Speaking during a press conference on Thursday evening Véran said that he “regretted the doubt surrounding the vaccine and delay in vaccination in the overseas territories which has led to many deaths”. The Minister added that while the “fourth wave is not behind us, it is declining”.

Delta variant in the Var region - Meanwhile according to data from Santé Publique France, the Delta variant is present in 99.1% of Covid-19 positive cases in the Var. While the British variant accounted for almost all of the infections in the Var before the summer, it has been overtaken by the Delta variant.

Delta is known to be much more contagious and is at the origin of the 4th wave of coronavirus that has hit the Var and France since July.

According to the data from Santé Publique France, the incidence rate was 430 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants on August 26. 226 people are currently hospitalized for covid in hospitals in the Var. 47 patients are in intensive care.

Former European Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier announces candidacy for France’s presidential - Former EU commissioner Michel Barnier has announced his candidacy for the 2022 presidential elections. The 70-year-old former European Union Brexit negotiator did not specify whether he would go through a right-wing primary. Speaking to French media on Thursday evening Barnier said that he wanted “to be the president of a reconciled France”. Barnier evoked the idea of "limiting immigration and controlling it" and "putting work, merit at the center of our society" as well as the fight against "climate change that will disrupt everything".

Speed limit in French capital - Paris town hall has announced plans to set the speed limit to 30km/h across the capital from August 30th. The change which is intended to improve road safety and reduce noise has been met with criticism from one of France’s main motorist associations saying that the move is “nonsensical, incomprehensible and dangerous”.

 

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