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Month: March 2020

Environmental impact of lockdown

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/03/2020

We all know the downsides to confinement, but there is also a silver lining. The environment, as well as the population, are coming out winners with Monaco seeing cleaner air and less noise.

As home confinement, home schooling and teleworking become the norm during lockdown, there are inevitably many less cars are on the roads. This may not seem like a big deal, but considering there are roughly 48,000 commuters travelling in and out of the Principality each day, coupled with those who already live and work in Monaco, that is a lot of vehicles on the road on any given day.

With less vehicles comes some very real benefits. The air becomes cleaner and noise levels drop significantly. As residents open windows to air their homes, they perhaps are noticing the lack of noise coming from construction sites, public works, road traffic or life in general. They may also be noticing a slight shift in the freshness of the air, as air quality improves throughout the region.

According to statistics by iqair.com, Monaco is looking at “good” air quality in five of the next seven days, and there have already been improvements in air quality since Sunday.

This phenomenon is happening the world over as flights are grounded, factories close down and people are confined to their homes. In China, satellite images from NASA and the European Space Agency showed a significant decrease in nitrogen dioxide pollution in the early months of this year after much of the country went into lockdown.
A similar effect has been seen in the north of Italy, while in New York City, scientists at Columbia University reported a 5-10 percent drop in CO2 emissions this week as traffic levels fell 35 percent. Los Angeles, notorious for its smoggy skies, is seeing unprecedented good air quality.
It’s not just air quality being affected, but also water. The rumours about dolphins in Venice canals are probably apocryphal, but it is true that they are clear, and relatively odour-free for the first time in anyone’s memory. Fish, swans and other marine life have returned in droves.
The effects of this reduction in pollution are not forecast to last though, once life resumes and people go back to work the pollution levels will rise again. 
But this glimmer of what life could be like may create a shift in mindset. People may start considering the impact of their actions and perhaps think twice before jetting off to a weekend party or hopping in the car for a short trip. With a little bit of change could come big rewards.  
 
 

Life in lockdown: Cookery classes

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/03/2020

Looking for something entertaining and educational to do during lockdown? Then why not check out a few online cookery classes. Some are free, most are inexpensive, and all are fun… plus they are suitable for the whole family.
Learning to cook is one of those things everyone says they want to do, but simply don’t have the time for. Confinement eradicates the “no time” excuse, now it is just about finding a class that fits the bill in terms of what to learn to make.
The internet is awash with choice. There are sites that condense a vast array of classes onto their sites so choosing is easier than ever. Some are actual online courses you do with an instructor in real time, whilst some give step-by-step instructions and ideas on what to make.
Want to learn how to cook on that wood stove that is currently being used as a junk collector? How about making a fool proof pancake? Or fresh-out-of-the-oven bread?
The selection is nearly endless, and the benefits are immense. Not only will new ideas for daily meals come out of these courses, but the kids can never again say they don’t know how to make x-y-z. Breakfast, or lunch for that matter, in bed, anyone?
Here are a few ideas to get started:

For those with tastes leaning more toward the adult beverage end of things, there are also multiple choices. The opportunity to learn about what wines to stock up on, how to do pairings, or how to make the best espresso martini ever from the comfort of home may make some viewers never want to leave the sofa!

Bon appetit, y’all!
 

Will Monaco endorse chloroquine?

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/03/2020

The anti-malarial drug chloroquine can be administered in France to patients suffering from the severest forms of the coronavirus but only under strict supervision, France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran has said. The Prince’s Government has not indicated where it stands on the controversial treatment.
Some researchers have said chloroquine shows great promise as a treatment, though scientists have agreed that more trials are needed to determine if the drug is really effective and safe.
“The high council recommends not to use this treatment… with the exception of grave cases, hospitalised, on the basis of a decision taken by doctors and under strict surveillance,” Veran told reporters.
Monaco has been close behind France, particularly the Alpes Maritimes, with regards to its Covid-19 response, including the closure of schools and non-essential businesses and imposing a night curfew. It remains to be seen whether the Principality will take the same stance on chloroquine as its neighbour.
Meanwhile, there is now an online coronavirus advice site in France – but available to all – aimed at those who think they have symptoms. At the end of a series of questions, people are advised whether they likely have the virus and are given direction as to further action.
 
 

Digital applications for CTTR

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/03/2020

Companies in the Principality who wish to apply for Reinforced Total Temporary Unemployment (CTTR) for their employees can now carry out the procedures online.
The government has made it easier for businesses to complete the CTTR process. They can now apply for authorisation from CCTR and submit their monthly declarations for the supplement payment for partial activity compensation, online.
The CTTR has been instated to allow companies to temporarily reduce or suspend the activity of employees – a measure that will end once the health situation has passed.
For more information, visit the government information site:
https://service-public-entreprises.gouv.mc/Emploi-et-social/Reglementation-du- travail/COVID19/Declarer-la-mise-en-Chomage-Total-Temporaire-Renforce
 

Riviera trials Covid-19 drug

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2020

Nice University Hospital (CHU Nice) is taking part in a Europe-wide trial to test the effectiveness of chloroquine in treating Covid-19.
Chloroquine and its cousin hydroxychloroquine have been used since the 1940’s to treat malaria. Then, during the SARS pandemic in the early 2000’s, the drug was found to prevent the spread of the virus in lab cultures that were testing treatment options.
Today, some in the medical community are revisiting these drugs to see if they can impact, limit or lessen the effects of Covid-19.
On Sunday, Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi – who recently tested positive for the coronavirus and has been taking chloroquine – announced that Nice University Hospital will start using chloroquine in clinical trials as part of a Europe-wide experiment to fight the disease.
Estrosi told BFMTV on Monday 23rd March, “I am on the 6th day (of treatment) and I feel like I have been cured, I am in great shape.”
It is one of four possible treatments CHU Nice is testing as part of the European trials.
The purpose is “to analyse the efficacy and tolerance of therapeutic options for patients in a limited time”, explained the National Institute of Health and Research (INSERM), the body that approved the clinical trials in France.
The French hospitals that have been chosen include not only CHU Nice, but also select facilities in Paris, Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg and Lyon. In the end, roughly 20 hospitals could be part of these studies, with around a quarter of patients being from France.
CHU Nice released a statement specifying that “the patients who will be the subject of this trial will be selected by the investigating doctors (infectiologists, pulmonologists and resuscitators) according to objective clinical and scientific criteria. The consent of the patient or the family will also be required. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy and the side effects of the treatments.”
Twenty-four patients in Marseille treated with chloroquine last week are on the mend, according to Dr Didier Raoult, Director of the Bacteriology and virology labs at La Timone Hospital in Marseille. The patients were amongst the first infected in the region and volunteered for the treatment.
“We could see that the patients who had not received Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) were still carriers after six days, however when we gave Plaquenil, after six days no more than 25% were carriers,” explained Dr Raoult.
The viral load is even lower in patients treated with the antibiotic azithromycin, according to the specialist.
Chloroquine works to intercept the virus’s ability to replicate in two ways. First, the drug enters endosomes – small compartments – within the cell membrane. Endosomes tend to be on the acidic side, but the drug changes their pH, making the compartments more basic. Many viruses acidify endosomes as a way of entering the cell membrane to release their genetic material and begin the replication process. Chloroquine blocks this critical step.
The drug also prevents certain viruses from plugging into a receptor called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2, according to a 2005 report made when scientists were looking for a cure for SARS. When the virus inserts its spike protein into the ACE2 receptor, it sets off a chemical process that alters the structure of the receptor and allows the virus to infect. Chloroquine in certain doses seems to stop this process. Viral replication is then thwarted, the authors noted.
Chloroquine clinical trials are also being made in the United States and China. Assuming the drugs are effective and well-tolerated in test subjects, supplies will be increased and its usage will be widespread in the treatment against Covid-19.
 
Photo: Pixabay
 

Formula One goes virtual

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2020

With the cancellation of the Monaco Grand Prix, as well as four other scheduled races this year, Formula One has launched a new F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix, featuring current F1 drivers alongside a number of other stars.
The Grand Prix racing calendar, like everything else, has been affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. So, to give fans another way to enjoy Formula One racing, they have developed a series that will replace every missed race with a virtual one.
The first virtual race was held on Sunday with the Bahrain Grand Prix. The slightly hectic inaugural race saw a few technical glitches and was cut short but saw Renault’s F2 rising star Guanyu Zhou land in the top spot. Stoffel Vandoorne came in 11 seconds later to nab second leaving Philipp Eng in third.
Short notice left many Formula One stars unable to compete, though Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi did make it. The fun wasn’t limited to current pilots, and a host of former drivers and outsiders joined in seeing Nico Hulkenberg, Stoffel Vandoorne, Anthony Davidson and Johnny Herbert all competing, while the more well-known names from outside of the sport included Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and former One Direction star Liam Payne.
The technical troubles meant that the race was cut short creating a 14-lap race rather than the scheduled 28, but the excitement was no less felt.
The participants all raced remotely in compliance with health and safety regulations currently in place, and the broadcast was hosted live from the Gfinity Esports Arena and was viewed on the Formula One’s YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels, as well as on F1.com.
The series is using the official F1 2019 PC video game, created by gaming company Codemasters and has a set of built-in game-levellers, as the gaming skills of each participant vary wildly. Things such as running equal car performances with fixed setups, reduced vehicle damage, and options such as anti-lock braking and traction control were available for those less confident with their game.
On non-race weekends, Formula One will host live exhibition races online, giving fans a chance to go up against real F1 pilots. Details of these events will be available in the coming weeks.
“We are very pleased to be able to bring some light relief in the form of the F1 Esports Virtual GP, in these unpredictable times, as we hope to entertain fans missing the regular sporting action,” said Julian Tan, head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports. “With every major sports league in the world unable to compete, it is a great time to highlight the benefits of esports and the incredible skill that’s on show.”
The next race will be held in two weeks at Melbourne’s virtual Albert Park track.