31 ° C
Profile

Month: March 2020

Latest facts and figures on Covid-19

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2020

The numbers on the coronavirus change as fast as the news surrounding it. Here is the latest as we know it.

As of writing, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Monaco had reached 46, with one fatality. For a country with just under 40,000 residents, all packed into close quarters, these numbers are not bad.

As an accident of geography, the Principality is sandwiched between the worst hit nation in Europe, Italy, where they are inching quickly toward 100,000 cases and nearly 11,000 deaths, and France, which saw 2,600 new cases on Sunday and sits at just over 40,000 cases and 2,600 deaths. Does this spell worse times ahead for Monaco?

Not necessarily. The Prince’s government reacted swiftly and concisely, has an excellent hospital that has been on alert for weeks and a populace that for the most part is taking this health crisis seriously, and researchers are scrambling to find a suitable treatment or vaccine to knock this thing out completely.

In recent days, the hype around treatment has focused primarily on chloroquine, a drug commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and malaria. Controversial French microbiologist Didier Raoult, the person mainly responsible for putting chloroquine on the map in relation to Covid-19, has said that his latest study of 80 patients showed that four out of five treated with the drug had “favourable” outcomes.

His earlier study on 24 patients showed a mix of chloroquine and an antibiotic called azithmycin yielded dramatic results. He says the virus completely vanished in 18 of those treated.

This treatment could well prove to be the miracle cure doctors have been looking for, but problems do exist. The drug can be toxic even in small doses if not administered correctly. Already, deaths have occurred by misuse of the drug. Last weekend a man in the United States died from an attempt at self-medication using a form of the drug generally used for cleaning fish tanks. His wife is in critical care. 

So far, the tests have been small scale and results have not been published or peer reviewed by medical journals. In fact, many are criticising Dr Raoult’s early findings, calling them “observational” at best. Even others on Dr Raoult’s team have admitted his study included only patients who had not been seriously ill upon admittance to hospital. This leaves open the possibility that they would have recovered on their own without the drug’s help.  

The French pharma giant Sanofi sells chloroquine under the brand name Plaquénil, and on the leaflet it lists the possible side effects. Deteriorating eyesight, nausea and digestive disorders are the most common, with heart failure being at the more dire end of the scale of possibilities.

For most patients suffering with Covid-19, 85% will be have the mild form and no treatment other than paracetamol is recommended. Be that as it may, a rush on Plaquénil at pharmacies is leaving supplies low, and there’s concern that those who rely on it for other diseases may soon have trouble getting their hands on it, though stricter measures have been put in place making obtaining the drug more difficult.

The confinement period has been touted as an opportunity for researchers and doctors to find better solutions to treating and hopefully eradicating the virus. Isolation is a temporary fix aimed at limiting the spread, not wiping it out, to ensure health care facilities are not overwhelmed and death rates are kept to an absolute minimum.

So, what comes after confinement? 

To get a better idea of the true impact the virus had on the population, the French government is proposing a massive blood test drive to ascertain a more accurate count of who has had the disease, even unwittingly, and those untouched.

This testing would prove vital in learning how the virus spread, who is immune and who is still at risk. Government action and precautions would be enacted based on the results. Technology to put mass testing in place is currently underway, though as of today, the tests are not quite ready. The hope is that they will be by the end of confinement, allowing tens of thousands of tests to be done every day.

 
 

 

Air pollution levels plummet in lockdown

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2020

Satellite data distributed by the European Space Agency show improvement in air quality in vast swaths of Europe since the confinement period began.

Air pollution has fallen by an estimated 40% in many major European cities, notably Paris, Milan and Madrid, since coronavirus lockdown measures have been in place.

The amount of nitrogen dioxide, a key component of air pollution, has visibly fallen as shown by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite images released last Friday. The three composite images show side by side visuals of cities over Monaco, Italy, France and Spain in the period from 14th to 25th March versus images from the same time last year.

Researchers are studying the impact on the environment as emissions from industry and transport slow during confinement and are struggling to understand the possible inferences. Preliminary assumptions are that anthropogenic pollution comes mainly from traffic, airplanes and industry. No big surprise there. But the proof of rapidity in which the air cleanses itself has been a big eye opener for many.

Nitrogen dioxide is emitted by cars, power plants and factories and is blamed for respiratory and heart conditions in humans. According to a European Environmental Agency report in 2019, nearly every person living in a city on the continent is exposed to air pollution exceeding healthy levels each day.

 
Photo: A combination image distributed by the European Space Agency (ESA) on 27th March 2020 shows the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from air pollution in March 2019 (L), and from March 14-25, 2020, as mapped by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite.
 
 

Apéro goes online

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2020

As the days of confinement wear on, people are coming up with creative ways to beat the boredom. One such idea is to “meet up” with multiple friends using one of the new apps or video conferencing sites – glass of wine optional.

About a week ago, I was bombarded with a number of requests to join Houseparty. Having no idea what it was, I was a little wary of it. Was this some post-apocalyptic bug running rampant through everyone’s computers? Was it some creepy app that kept subscribers always available to others in the group?  

After a bit of research, I found it was far less sinister. Houseparty is simply an app that allows for face to face social networking with one or more people. Like its more grown-up cousins, Zoom and Google Meet, it means that you can be online with friends and chatting, almost as if you were in the same room.

As a way of combatting the fear, depression and isolation that some people are suffering with during this confinement period, these applications are changing people’s perspectives and pulling them out of funks by getting friends together, regardless of whether they live next door or on the other side of the globe.

How it works is straightforward. Friends arrange a pre-scheduled meeting time, then the “host” logs on and invites friends to join using an email address or mobile phone number. The friends click ‘join’ and voila! People are now face to face with one or more friends and can chat for hours – for free.

Apéro seems to be the most common excuse for these get togethers. Unless that is just me, which unleashes a frightening commentary on my life and friends (to be explored at another time). In any case, it seems more and more people are grabbing a glass of wine and a bowl of crisps and settling into these get togethers to talk about everything under the sun. It is a much needed respite from the never-ending days that come with lockdown.

One of the more charming aspects of the “Zoom Boom” is that a particular time of day is set aside – as for a meeting with work. No one is busy doing other things and people are actually paying attention to each other involved in the chat, not endlessly glancing at their phones or distractedly checking messages.

The social and cultural aspect of this feels as if we have come full circle. All we needed was a particularly virulent virus and to be completely cut off from our normal lives for people to behave properly and with a certain amount of decorum. Dedicating time to speak to and be with those we care about is an old-fashioned notion in this high-speed world. Perhaps we will be able to transition back to normality using the same principles we are learning from this and continue our apéro with friends who are near and far, long after the lockdown has passed.

 
Photo: Zoom 
 
 

Salaried employees up 2.9% in 2019

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2020

Monaco’s private sector saw a 2.9% rise last year in workers holding full time contracts over the year before.

According to the latest figures by statistics group IMSEE, the Principality had 1,490 more employees in private sector jobs in 2019 than the previous year. The majority of these hold French nationality with a 60/40 split men to women and an average age of 42 years. The total number of private sector salaried employees in Monaco was 53,091 as of 31st December 2019.  

Interestingly, nearly 90% of those employed by privately held companies do not reside in the Principality. Just over 79% are French and unsurprisingly live predominantly in the Alpes-Maritimes, whilst 8.6% of those crossing the border daily to commute to work are Italian. The remaining 12.2% are Monaco residents.

At the end of 2019, more than 86% of the private sector salaried population worked in the tertiary sector, both merchant and non-merchant, corresponding to 46,000 people. Primary sector employees made up only 0.3% and the remaining 13.5% were in the secondary.

The sector in general with the largest number of employees was the scientific, technical and administrative services and support representing 23% of the total. This was the first time this sector was in the top spot. Hotels and restaurants fell to 15.4%, followed by 11.5% in the “other” services sector, 9.8% in construction, and 7.9% in health services. Several others such as real estate, importers, financial, transportation, manufacturing and communications made up the remainder.

Most businesses, just over three-quarters, had less than five full time employees working for them, and women were much more present in these smaller ventures than in the larger ones, despite making up less of the global salaried population.

 
 

Monaco records first hospital death

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/03/2020

Monaco has recorded its first death of a patient suffering from Covid-19. The person, aged in their 80s, was a non-resident but was being treated in the Principality.
The government announced on Saturday that a person suffering severe cardiac distress had been hospitalised and tested positive for Covid-19. The elderly patient was admitted to intensive care at the CHPG on Wednesday 25th March and died a few days later.
“The Princely Government wishes to show the family of this person their full support during these trying times,” said the government in a statement. “This is a moment of great sadness which demonstrates the importance of remaining fully mobilised while respecting the health precaution rules laid down by the Princely Government.”
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in Monaco has risen to 46 following further positive test results on the weekend. One of these patients has now been cured of the virus.
 
 

Home confinement extended by two weeks

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/03/2020

Prince Albert has ordered the extension of lockdown measures until 15th April, in line with a decision taken in neighbouring France.
Monaco went into lockdown on 17th March, with movement throughout the Principality restricted to “essential” trips only.
In order to continue efforts made over the past 10 days to try to contain the spread of the virus, the travel restriction measures will be extended for a period of two weeks starting next week.
“It is essential to remember that the virus does not circulate alone, it is the movement of people that promotes the pandemic,” said the government in a statement. “It is for this reason that the Princely Government, at the request of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, has taken a series of necessary measures to protect the national community.”
Only limited travel to get food and medical supplies, or to assist a vulnerable family member is allowed. A short trip outdoors to walk pets or for individual exercise is also allowed.
Public places not essential to the life of the country remain closed, in particular restaurants, cafes, concert halls, cinemas, casinos and nightclubs.
The only establishments to remain open are food stores and markets, pharmacies, tobacconists, newsagents, gas stations and banks.
The night curfew between 10pm and 5am is also maintained and shops are not allowed to accept the public from 9.30pm.
Police officers will be enforcing the lockdown measures and can issue those who do not comply with a fine of €200.
 
Photo by Monaco Life, all rights reserved