Lunchtime News Wednesday February 24th 2021

Increased checks-Gendarmes and police are carrying out extra spot checks across the Alpes Maritimes to make sure that people are complying with tougher coronavirus regulations.

Checks are being carried out on the streets and in shops to make sure that people are wearing face masks and observing correct social distancing.

Larger supermarkets are restricting numbers of customers inside to 600 with queues forming at some outlets

Fines of 135 euros can be imposed for non-compliance but authorities say that they’re mainly issuing warnings for a first offence as long as it’s not too blatant.

Vaccines-From tomorrow ,general practitioners will be allowed to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine at surgeries.

29,000 doctors have been given permission to administer the vaccine with thousands of extra doses being shipped to the south of France to kickstart inoculation for those aged between 50 and 64 with underlying health problems.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has already been in stock at the Archet hospital in Nice for 10 days.

The prefect of the Alpes Maritimes has said that vaccine supplies for the Alpes Maritimes are now a national priority.

Mobile vaccination-A new mobile vaccination bus has started operating in the Var for the elderly.

Single seniors will be able to talk to a doctor and then have the coronavirus vaccine administered by a nurse.

The operation started at Saint Martin de Pallieres in the Haut Var on Tuesday and aims to vaccinate people over the age of 75 anywhere north of Brignoles.

Shopping slump-The new coronavirus restrictions are seeing a big drop in numbers of shoppers across the Alpes Maritimes.

Stores and shopping centres of over 5,000 square meters have been ordered to close resulting in empty,shuttered shops.

At Cap 3,000 ,only 7 of the centres shops have been allowed to remain open resulting in an 84 percent drop in footfall.

Au Pairs- The French organisation representing au pairs says that business has plunged since the UK left the European Union.

The au pair system had been incredibly popular in France with thousands of young students taking advantage to spend a year or two in the UK in return for board and lodgings.

The new immigration salary restrictions of a minimum income of 20,000 pounds per annum have resulted in the bottom falling out of the market.

The restrictions are proving to be far too costly for UK families wishing to employ an au pair with average salaries before Brexit of 5,000 pounds a year.

Football fans in the dock-14 Marseilles football supporters are appearing in court today charged with assault and other violent offences which broke out at the club’s training ground before the match against Rennes on January the 30th.

Seven police officers were injured and a number of vehicles damaged in the incident which involved a mob of some 300 “football fans”.

Some of the accused managed to break into the training ground causing thousands of euros worth of damage.

Those accused risk maximum jail terms of 5 years and fines of up to 75,000 euros if found guilty.

The court will be shown a police video of the incident before reaching a verdict.