News
Cyclist killed in road accident - A cyclist has been killed in a road accident. The accident occurred at around 4pm on Wednesday on the M336 heading towards Cagnes-sur-Mer - Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The 57-year-old man was hit by a car on a bend. An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances of the tragic accident.
Security stepped up in Christian places of worship - Two months after the attack on the Notre Dame Church of Nice, Christian places of worship will receive special security over Christmas and New Year. With the “Vigipirate” or “Emergency attack alert” at its highest level in France, since the terrorist attack which left 3 dead in Nice, France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Wednesday that a police presence would be reinforced.
Nursing home in Vence pays a high price as Covid claims 13 lives - A nursing home in Vence has reported that 13 residents who tested positive for Covid-19 have died. For the last three weeks the home has been facing the second wave of Covid with a total of 74 positive cases being detected out of the 110 residents, as well as 45 members of staff.
Monaco - Four catering establishments in Monaco have been ordered to close for between 4 and 7 days from today because of repeated breaches of coronavirus measures. Monaco authorities carried out checks on various catering establishments in the Principality. In total, around sixty establishments spread over the districts of Monte-Carlo, Port Hercule and Fontvieille were visited. The objective was to ensure proper compliance with sanitary measures. In total, 21 fines were issued for various offenses. The majority of them concerned the non-wearing of masks by members of staff and the failure to respect a distance of 1.5 meters between tables.
Coronavirus data for the Alpes Maritimes - The latest indicators of the coronavirus epidemic in the Alpes-Maritimes shows that the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients continues to break previous records, mortality remains at a high rate and the number of new cases detected every day is increasing. According to data from Public Health France Nice has an incidence rate that is higher than the national average for a department. The incidence rate, which is the number of cases detected per 100,000 inhabitants, stands at 250 for the Alpes Maritimes. In detail according to the data provided by the authorities Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, Menton, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Le Cannet, Vallauris, Mandelieu and Cagnes-sur-Mer keep an incidence rate of between 150 and 250 with the capital of the Riviera Nice showing a rate above 250 since December 17th, with a thousand cases detected in one week.
However, some towns such as Villefranche, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Eze, Cap d'Ail and Roquebrune show an indicator below 150 and in Théoule the incidence rate is the lowest, standing at 10 according to the data.
Big wheel starts turning in Nice - Nice city council has given the green light for the emblematic “big wheel” in Place Massena to be put in place during the holidays. The attraction opened at 2pm on Wednesday and will remain open until March 7th. The cost of the ride remains unchanged at 8 euros and 5 euros for children up to 8 years old.
Cannes pays tribute to Sean Connery - The City of Cannes is paying tribute to Sean Connery in its New Year celebrations. An image of the actor, who died on 31st October, is on the facade of the Palais des Festivals until the end of January along with the slogan “Cannes is eternal, best wishes 2021”. It features a photo taken in front of the Hotel Carlton in 1965 during the 18th Cannes Film Festival.
Vaccination in France - France, along with the rest of Europe, is to start its Covid-19 vaccination campaign on 27th December, with the most vulnerable population in nursing homes the first to receive the jab. France’s Health Minister, Olivier Veran, said a few dozen elderly people will be vaccinated this Sunday, followed by more in the beginning of January.
France has one of the highest levels of doubt over the vaccine in the world. Polls have shown that some 40-50 percent are not certain that they will get the Covid-19 vaccine. France has ordered 200 million doses enough to vaccinate 100 million people - more than its population of nearly 70 million.
Controversial draft law suspended due to angry reaction from MPs - Meanwhile France’s government has temporarily called off a debate on a draft law which has angered opposition MPs as the law could see public transport refused to people who do not take "preventative treatment" against Covid-19.
According to the text, a negative Covid-19 test or proof of “preventative treatment, including the administration of a vaccine” could be required for “access to transport or to some locations, as well as certain activities”.
President Emmanuel Macron has promised coronavirus vaccinations would not be mandatory, a pledge reiterated this week by
