Riviera Radio Weekend News Sunday 12th April 2020

 

 

Coronavirus - In the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region since the start of the coronavirus epidemic 2,377 people have been discharged from hospital. The number of people diagnosed in the PACA to date is 10,309 and 317 patients have died from the virus. 1,777 remain in hospital including 436 in intensive care. 

In the Alpes Maritimes 112 people have died from the virus and 104 in the Var. The numbers for those admittted to intensive care in both these regions has remained stable for the past 24 hours. 

In Monaco there are to date, 92 cases of coronavirus, five of which have recovered from the virus. Eight people are in hospital, four of which are in intensive care. 

On a National level to date 13,842 people have died in France since the beginning of the epidemic.

Police to increase road controls - As our region starts its Easter holiday, all be it in confinement, like the rest of France. 160,000 police officers have been deployed across the country to carry out additional checks and prevent people from going on holiday. The prefecture of the Alpes Maritimes has warned of an increase iin controls this Easter weekend. 

Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier expected in Toulon today - The Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier is expected to arrive in Toulon today, Sunday 12th April. 1,800 sailors of the aircraft carrier, which was originally scheduled to return on April 23 from the Foch mission, are expected in Toulon today.

While 50 cases of Covid-19 have been identified on the flagship of the French Navy, it's been decided that the entire crew are to be placed for a fortnight at different defense base sites such as Toulon, Saint-Mandrier, Hyères and Cuers.

Campaign - A new campaign posted on #Nice06 and on social neworks has been launched by the mayor of Nice Chrisitan Estrosi, the images have led to opposition candidate Philippe Vardon calling for the "shocking and indecent campaign" to be pulled. The campaign was started to show those that are behaving irresponsibly during confinement, the real dangers of the virus. 

On Saturday morning, Christian Estrosi announced the deployment of 25 loudspeakers which, integrated with video surveillance cameras, will broadcast prevention messages in several districts or Nice including: Jean-Medecin, Garibaldi, Liberation, Promenade des Anglais and the Port. 

Confinement extended - Meanwhile in Monaco the confinement, which has been in force for already three weeks has been extended until May 3rd, to fight against the epidemic of coronavirus.

Tour de France - The organizers of the Tour de France, which was due to start in Nice on July 27, plan to postpone the 2020 edition "later in the summer" rather than a cancellation. 

Road safety - Figures published have shown that the  number of deaths on French roads has plunged 39.6% in March compared to the same month last year, with 154 people dead, a figure that reflects the results of confinement.

Fraud - The French government has warned against partial unemployment fraud. Adding that "There will be controls carried out" and if they "show that short-time working is used inappropriately and that people combine short-time working and teleworking, it will be very bad for companies concerned," the warning came from France's secretary of State of the Economy Agnès Pannier-Runacher in an interview on Saturday morning.  According to the Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud, 8 million employees and more than 700,000 companies benefit from partial unemployment.

Animal shelters - The Interior Ministry has announced "a tolerance will be granted regarding movements for the adoption of animals in shelters" after several animal protection associations, have expressed their concern in recent days, about the overflow in shelters.

Green light given - It's been reported that he French National Authority for Health has given the green light to extend access to voluntary termination of pregnancy medication at home to nine weeks, compared to the current seven week period, the "move comes to allow women their rights during the coronavirus epidemic" .

French President to address the nation on Monday 13th April - On Monday evening at 8pm, Emmanuel Macron is to address the French on the coronavirus crisis. He is expected in particular to speak about the extension of the confinement and the management of the weeks and months to come. 

While France is close to 14,000 deaths due to the coronavirus epidemic, the country has been living under confinement since March 17.

The head of state is reportedly preparing, a speech of about fifteen minutes, in which he does not want to give the impression of already being in the post-crisis period. "He will present a strategy and will follow the logic of explaining why an exit from confinement today is not wise," 

On the subject of masks, Macron will no doubt evoke the subject, but without going into details, believing that this is the role of the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon.

Also on the agenda: the issue of closing the borders of the Schengen area until the summer, or even September. Friday, during a meeting with social partners, he put this hypothesis on the table. The final decision must be taken at a European level, and not before the European Council on 23rd April. 

Other questions remain unanswered: What about the reopening of schools? How to reconcile the economic recovery and the health crisis? "Things are not decided on the basis of the economy, but on health," insists a government adviser. "It is sanitation above all".

 

 

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