Lunchtime News Thursday 6th May 2021

News 

Covid in the Alpes Maritimes - The Regional Health Agency (ARS) for the Alpes Maritimes has reported 4 new hospital deaths linked to Covid-19. Since the start of the epidemic, Covid has killed 1,927 people (446 in nursing homes, 1,481 in hospitals). The number of people being admitted to hospital continues to decline in the region with 161 people currently hospitalised and 66 people in intensive care.

According to Public Health France, the incidence rate - which corresponds to the number of people tested positive over seven days and reported to 100,000 inhabitants - was 115 on April 26th, below the critical threshold.

More doses of vaccine for holiday period - The French government is considering allocating more doses of Covid vaccines to tourist areas this summer, in order to continue the vaccination campaign despite people leaving for holidays. Emmanuel Macron has promised since January that all adults will be vaccinated by the end of the summer. Several scenarios are being considered so that in the event that a person has received their first dose of vaccine before going on vacation, the government wants to prevent the French from going back and forth to the place where the first injection took place, by providing some departments with more doses.

Hotel Negresco reopens today - After six months of being closed to the public due to the health crisis in France, the Hotel Negresco in Nice reopens today Thursday 6th May and will at the same time inaugurate new products and catering all under a brand new image.

In other news 

Policeman shot dead in Avignon - A policeman has been shot dead in Avignon in the Vaucluse. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon shortly after 6pm during an anti-drug operation, as police carried out identity checks on several individuals. The police had been sent to the city centre after being alerted by local residents. The officer was killed after several shots were fired by an individual who later fled the scene on a scooter and is still at large with several hundred police officers being mobilized on Wednesday evening. The victim, a 36-year-old father, died at the scene as emergency services intervened. Police have opened an investigation and are studying CCTV footage.

Driving licences - UK MP Sir Roger Gale has called on ministers for “an urgent reappraisal of the situation” over delays with driving licence exchange in France. Sir Roger Gale has asked Department for Transport ministers to look into the ongoing problems due to the impossibility of exchanging a UK driving licence for a French licence since January 1st, 2021. This so far especially impacts those whose British licences have now expired,

And Finally

Research has revealed that in the UK a quarter of people living with their partner are so smitten they are worried about suffering from separation anxiety as restrictions are eased.

The survey found 68 per cent have “adored” spending more time together over the last year. Being able to go out walking together topped the list of activities people were able to enjoy more of, followed by talking, eating lunch with each other, and watching box sets.

The research, found 24 per cent are worried about getting separation anxiety from their partner when restrictions are eased - with men and women equally concerned.

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