Lunchtime News Monday 13th July 2020

Footballer’s brother shot dead in Toulouse - A 26-year-old man has been shot dead in Toulouse in the early hours of this morning. The victim is the younger brother of footballer Serge Aurier, defender of the London club Tottenham, and former player of Paris Saint Germain.  Christopher Aurier was a footballer like his older brother. Police have luanched an investigation into the shooting. 

Coronavirus death toll passes 30,000 in France - France has passed the toll of more than 30,000 deaths due to coronavirus, as officials began to warn of slight rise in cases in the country.

The country has the third highest death toll in Europe after the United Kingdom and Italy.

The new prime minister Jean Castex has spoken out about avoiding a second wave of the virus, calling on citizens to continue to wear masks as frequently as possible.

Testing – Meanwhile blood tests to check for coronavirus antibodies are now available without prescription from pharmacies in France however, health authorities have said that people should still consult a doctor when interpreting results.

Rapid tests cost from 9 euros and up to and around 15 euros in some chemists. The blood tests can identify if the tested individual has antibodies in their blood against the coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 (which causes Covid-19). The presence of antibodies suggests that the individual has been infected with the virus previously, within the past two-three weeks.

Testing at French airports - The French government has announced the setup of coronavirus testing in the coming days, at airports in France. Travellers arriving from countries in the red zone will be tested. Authorities say they aim to be able to carry out 2,000 tests per day. For those who have taken the test in their country of origin they will need to provide proof.

Road accidents in the Bouches du Rhone - Emergency services in the Bouches-du-Rhône have said they have been overwhelmed by the number of road accidents over the last few days. As holiday makers took to the roads Sunday was particularly hectic in the Bouches du Rhone region with authorities warning motorists to take extra care.