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Day: 26 March 2020

Only two hotels remain open

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/03/2020

SBM has now closed the doors of all of its hotels in Monaco except the Hôtel de Paris and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, which are accommodating long-term guests and those who are unable to return home.
In accordance with the directives of the Prince’s Government, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) closed the doors of its casinos, restaurants, bars and wellness centres on Saturday 14th March at midnight.
With the exception of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – which was closed during off-season – the group’s hotels have all remained in operation providing accommodation to customers who could no longer return home.
But on Monday 23rd March, SBM took new measures to protect its customers and employees, closing the doors of the Méridien Beach Plaza. Guests were re-accommodated at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.
Monaco’s “grande dame”, the Hermitage Hotel Monte-Carlo, has also been closed until 30th April – a date which could change according to the situation. All guests of the Hermitage were re-accommodated at the Hôtel de Paris at no extra charge.
The Monte-Carlo Beach, currently in seasonal closure, remains closed until further notice.
“During this period, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort remain open to ensure continuity of service for our short-term customers, long-stay customers and residential customers, as well as those in the apartments and villas,” said SBM in a statement. “A minimum room service is provided at the Hôtel de Paris 24 hours a day. All regulatory safety and health measures are strictly applied to protect our customers and our employees.”
All of SBM’s casinos, restaurants and bars – those inside and outside its hotels, as well as wellness centres and the Sporting Monte-Carlo also remain closed until further notice.
“In this unprecedented situation not seen in 150 years of history, our top priority is the safety of our customers and our employees,” said SBM Deputy Chairman Jean-Luc Biamonti. “These new measures are being taken in this direction in order to ensure continuity of service for our customers and the Principality of Monaco.”
Future reservations at SBM hotels can only be made for after 30th April 2020.

Fairmont Hotel Monte-Carlo, courtesy Fairmont Hotel

The decision to close has been taken by all of the Principality’s main hotels. The Fairmont Hotel is not accepting guests until after 30th April, the Port Palace is only taking bookings for 16th April onwards, the Hotel Ambassador Monaco and Novotel Monte-Carlo are not accepting guests until 1st May, and the Columbus Monte-Carlo will reopen on 16th April.
 
Top photo: Hôtel de Paris, courtesy SBM
 
 
 

Council asks for markets to remain open

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/03/2020

The National Council of Monaco says it aims to keep the Condamine and Monte-Carlo markets open throughout the current crisis, despite the closure of all food markets this week across France.
In a statement released on Thursday 26th March, the council said: “We can understand that for certain areas, especially in Ile-de-France, the configuration of sites and certain overflows justify the closing of markets. On the contrary, in Monaco – as with all our food stores – all the health security and distancing measures are scrupulously respected.”
The council says it supports the continued operation of food markets in Monaco, adding, “Our markets are essential supply points for fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs”.
The council has shared a map of the Condamine and Monte-Carlo markets, indicating which merchants are performing home deliveries and providing contact numbers.

Meanwhile, police embarked on an awareness operation Thursday this morning reminding merchants of distance measures and actions that must be respected in their establishments.

© Communication Branch / Manual Vitali

 
Top photo: courtesy Mairie de Monaco
 

Psychologists to join call centre

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/03/2020

The government has added psychologists to the team at Monaco’s Covid-19 call centre as a growing number of people seek advice on how to cope with isolation and fear.  

Until just a few days ago, Monaco’s Covid-19 call centre was getting roughly 200 calls each day from people asking questions mainly about the virus, symptoms and how to avoid contracting it. That number has more than halved to around 80 a day now, but the centre has noted a portion of these people are needing advise on mental health, not just physical health.

Since confinement, nearly 7% of calls received by the centre are from those who need to speak to someone to help them alter their perspectives or to vent their concerns and frustrations about isolation.

The Prince’s government has responded to this shift by asking psychologists to join the team at the call centre. They will be providing moral support for those who are not coping well with confinement or for those experiencing anxiety over the spread of the disease.  

The call centre is made up of volunteers from the Department of Health Action, the Monegasque Red Cross and a supervising doctor. Monegasque citizens, residents and employees are all welcome to ask questions in connection to the epidemic by calling +377 92 05 55 00. There is someone available to talk seven days a week from 9am to 6pm. It is also possible to send an email to covid19@gouv.mc.

 

PHOTO: Communication Department ©Manuel Vitali

 
 
 

Ricciardo shares feelings about GP cancellation

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/03/2020

Australian Formula One champion Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is disappointed by the early cancellations of the 2020 F1 season, particularly the Monaco Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault Racing Team hosted an Instagram Q&A video on Wednesday 25th March during which the 30-year-old champion – and Monaco resident – spoke about the mental toll the cancellations are taking. Speaking from his family’s farm in Western Australia, he noted that the Monaco Grand Prix in particular was a tough one to accept.
“I watched an onboard of Monaco last night and got a bit sad,” he touchingly said in the video. “I don’t really know where we’re going to be. That one hurt me. They’re all going to hurt, for sure, Melbourne being so close as well. The reality is setting in, unfortunately.”
Ricciardo was the winner of the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix and was obviously hoping to repeat history. He made headlines when he took a fully clothed celebratory dive into the Red Bull pool – a standout image of the 2018 season. During Wednesday’s Q&A, Ricciardo obligingly jumped into his swimming pool after agreeing to do so if enough people urged him to, and revealed his other activities in self-isolation involved driving buggies and watching the sheep being sheered.
Another way he is keeping busy – driving a tractor around the farm, as he shared in this instagram post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-CBjMkJM7f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The first eight races of the 2020 Formula One season have been called off due to the coronavirus. Hopes are currently still alive that the season will be abridged and not fully cancelled, with Formula One Group CEO Chase Carey saying he anticipates a 15-18 race season, though no one is sure when the new starting date will be.
As of now, the 14th June Canadian Grand Prix is still on, but there are serious doubts as to whether this will realistically happen especially in light of cancellations and postponements of other sporting events as far off as August, and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.
With so many countries now on lockdown, drivers have been forced to return home to continue training remotely. Ricciardo credits training with keeping things relatively normal.
“Training’s definitely the thing that’s keeping me with that competitive mindset,” Ricciardo said. “You get a bit of anger out when you train, so that’s been my medicine for now. I feel like now is kind of perfect to get in shape. We’re forced to stay in, there’s no jet lag, there’s no airports, we can really create like a training camp which we don’t always have. It’s been nice knowing we’ve got time, we don’t have to rush it. I think you’re going to see a lot of drivers and people in general, whenever this is over, all pretty fit I hope.”
This year will be the first time the Monaco Grand Prix has not been raced since 1954.
 

Cash bonus for those on the front line

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/03/2020

Monaco’s Minister of State Serge Telle has revealed that a €1,000 bonus will be paid to all public service officials and agents who have been fully mobilised during the coronavirus crisis.

In an interview on Wednesday 25th March with Monaco-Matin, the Minister of State said that, at the request of HSH Prince Albert II, a special bonus will be handed out to those who have been fully engaged with and are a part of dealing with the health emergency.

Mr Telle is currently confined to his home after testing positive to the virus.

“The Prince asked us to work on the principle of an exceptional bonus which would be paid to all public service agents who are fully mobilised on the coronavirus crisis. It will be a bonus in the amount of €1,000,” said Mr Telle. 

It is currently not clear who will be eligible for the bonus, though it is safe to say that front line health care workers will be at the top of the list, as well as many of the Principality’s emergency service workers.

“The perimeter and the methods of this exceptional bonus are not fixed,” said the minister. “But the principle is established. And it is a good principle: this bonus will represent, at the end of this crisis, the gratitude of the State to all those who will have mobilised without counting the management and responses to the consequences of the epidemic.” 

Details outlining the distribution of funds will be discussed with the National Council at the next Monitoring Committee meeting scheduled for Monday 30th March.

 
Photo: Pixabay