Lunchtime News Friday 6th November 2020

Covid-19 - Nearly 60,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours in France, almost 20,000 more than on Wednesday, making France the country with the highest number of cases in Europe.

According to public health authorities, the number reached this level because of "problems in reporting test results". On Wednesday, France reported some 40,500 cases.

Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon said the current second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was “brutal” and the infection was “spreading rapidly".

Vitamin D - It's been reported that the Académie Nationale de Médicine  in France has advised that people take vitamin D supplements in order to reinforce their “innate immunity” against Covid-19 this winter.

Several studies have shown that vitamin D is effective in combatting illnesses. Ongoing studies are also investigating links between serious forms of Covid-19 and vitamin D deficiency. In France, 41% of people have winter vitamin D deficiency.

Monaco - The Monégasque government has confirmed on Thursday evening that after concerns expressed by some press outlets and social networks regarding changes to the current health restrictions and the current health situation in the Principality the move to introduce a national lockdown in Monaco “is not relevant at the moment”.

The government added that in “a coherent and united manner”, following a meeting with the National Council the Principality remains under the current curfew introduced last Saturday but that introducing a lockdown in the Principality is not an option as it’s a measure that the government “is for the time being, keen to avoid at all costs”.

Monaco reported 18 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday bringing the total number of residents affected by coronavirus to 430. In addition to these figures 25 people were reported to have recovered on Thursday which means that since the beginning of the epidemic in the Principality 318 patients have recovered.

13 people are hospitalised and 96 are being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre.

Villeneuve-Loubet -Meanwhile the decree issued by the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet demanding the authorization of the opening of non-food small businesses during the national lockdown has been suspended by the Administrative Tribunal.

According to the court, there is no unfair competition between small, large businesses and online commerce.

The mayor (LR) Lionnel Luca, had issued the decree based on the unfair competition between small and large businesses and online commerce. An argument that the court did not accept.

Other news.....

Suspicious package - The train station in Antibes has been evacuated after reports of a suspicious package.

Police closed the station on Thursday afternoon following the alert which was later discovered to be forgotten luggage by a commuter, who was later fined for the inconvenience caused.

Free expression - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with his French counterpart amid controversy over recent comments he made about free expression.

Mr Trudeau expressed Canada's solidarity with "the people of France" following the recent terror attacks.