New Lockdown Measures Announced for the Alpes-Maritimes

The Prefect of the Alpes Maritimes has announced lockdown restrictions over the next two weekends affecting much of the department. At a press conference today Bernard Gonzalez said that for the next two weekends there will be a lockdown in coastal urban municipalities of the Alpes Maritmes stretching from Menton to Theoule-sur-Mer, which will affect almost 90% of the population of the department. The measures will be in force from Friday at 6pm until Monday at 6am. During that time outings will be permitted for a limited number of reasons including excercising for one hour within 5km of home, visits to a doctor, walking pets and shopping for food.

Several other measures were announced by the Prefect today and will be in operation for a period of fifteen days from today in an effort to stem the spread of the virus. These measures include the closure of stores of over 5,000 square metres as from tomorrow, except food stores and pharmacies, although click and collect and home delivery will still be permitted. Wearing a mask will be compulsory in all "high traffic areas" throughout the entire department. Controls at airports and the Italian border will be reinforced. Covid-19 tests will be carried out on random flights arriving at Nice and Cannes Mandelieu airports.

The director of the PACA regional health agency said that the incidence rate is 588 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the department, which he said is three times higher than the national average, and intensive care beds at the CHU in Nice are nearly 90% occupied.