Lunchtime News Thursday 17th December 2020

News 

Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19 - French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19. The 42-year-old French President tested positive after showing symptoms and will isolate for seven days. According to the Elysee Mr. Macron is "still in charge of running the country and will work remotely".

Poll published today shows that nearly one out of two French people refuse to get vaccinated - Meanwhile a poll carried out by Elabe and published today has shown that nearly one out of two French people, or 49%, refuse to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Among the 49% of people who do not intend to be vaccinated, 63% cite the lack of perspective on Covid-19 and the vaccine. 51% say they fear unwanted side effects. 31% of them also claim to doubt the effectiveness. Others express mistrust of laboratories and health authorities (30%), mistrust of vaccines in general (16%) with 8% saying they are "not afraid of catching the Covid.

56% of French people also feel "uninformed" about the Covid-19 vaccine.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex has said that people in France could begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine from the last week of December if the European Union's regulator approves the jab next week.

On Wednesday the Prime Minister and France’s Health Minister Olivier Véran presented the government's plans for vaccine distribution to the National Assembly. The proposals will be debated in the lower house of parliament before being presented to the Senate later today.

France’s roads - Despite the end of lockdown in France the road traffic authority Bison Futé has said it’s not expecting any major delays on the roads this Friday as school’s breakup for Christmas.

Friday is classified as orange in the Paris region, for those leaving the capital and nationally the entire weekend is classified as green.

Bison Futé does however warn that traffic conditions may deteriorate depending on weather conditions and invites motorists to consult road conditions on its website.