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Day: 13 April 2020

France prepares to end confinement

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/04/2020

The lockdown in France will be gradually lifted from 11th May, however the Schengen border will remain closed for months to come.
French President Emmanuel Macron gave his third address to the nation on Monday night, announcing that strict confinement would continue for another month. He stressed that this would only be possible if France “continues to be civil, responsible and respect the rules.”
On 11th May, creches and schools will open gradually, while students in higher education and university will not return to class until September.
The most vulnerable members of the community – the elderly and those with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses – “must remain confined even after 11th May, at least initially.”
Public establishments such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas, gyms and museums will remain closed “at this stage”, while festivals will only be allowed to go ahead after mid-July.
“The situation will be collectively assessed from mid-May, every week, to adjust things and give you visibility,” said the president.
France’s borders with non-European countries, however, will remain closed “until further notice”.
The head of state said that by mid-May, France will have a test for each person with Covid-19 symptoms and a general public mask for each person in the country. Masks could also become “systematic” in certain situations, like on transport and for certain professions.
Macron announced “a specific plan” for sectors, like tourism, hotels, catering, culture and events, which will be “permanently affected”, including the cancellation of charges and financial aid.
The president conceded early in his speech that France was “not sufficiently prepared” for the pandemic. “Like all the countries of the world, we lacked gloves, hydroalcoholic gel …”. However, he said, thanks to the efforts of the French, the country has multiplied the production of masks in recent weeks by five.
In ending his speech, President Emmanuel Macron called on everyone to “think outside the box” in the coming weeks, to reinvent themselves and prepare for what’s to come.
“Me first,” said the president. “In this crisis, there is an opportunity for us to reconnect, to test our humanity, to build another project in harmony… I will try to draw the path that makes this possible. My dear compatriots, we will have better days and we will find happiness.”
 
Photo: Screengrab of President Macron’s live address
 
 

Princely family’s Easter wishes

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/04/2020

Prince Albert has joined his wife in sending a special Easter message to the people of Monaco. Meanwhile, Princess Charlene has publicly shared some sweet photos of the twins enjoying Easter in the garden of their Angel Roc home. 
The Princely couple were casually dressed in matching light blue button downs, she seated with her two dogs, he standing with a hand warmly on her back in a spring-like enclave replete with hay bales, cheery plants and stuffed bunnies. They reminded the residents of the Principality that despite the difficult times, they wanted everyone to know they wish them a nice Easter.

Princess Charlene sent her own wishes to her 153,000 Instagram followers a few days prior, posting photos of the twins hard at work planting flowers and generally looking adorable, saying she was, “Sending healing and love to the world, we miss you, see you soon.”
Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques looked much like five-year olds everywhere on half term break. They were kitted out in track suits, casual shoes and gardening gloves, intent on the job at hand; scooters leaned up against the back wall.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-0Hy0llBOW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
 
The photos and video were taken at Angel Roc, the family’s country home above Monaco, where the Princess and children stayed when HSH Prince Albert II was self-quarantined during his bout with coronavirus. The Sovereign Prince joined his family once he was given the all clear by doctors and continues to work from home there, respecting the rules of lockdown.
 
Photo: A screen grab of Prince Albert’s and Princess Charlene’s Easter message
 
 

Monaco is stronger together

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/04/2020

Monaco’s #strongtogether solidarity campaign is gaining traction with a host of Monegasque personalities joining the rallying cry, including Prince Albert II.
#strongertogether began in late March, as Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer hung banners from its iconic Monegasque institutions in solidarity with SBM staff and employees.

The Monte-Carlo Casino ©️ Direction de la communication / Manuel Vitali

By 4th April, the Prince had joined the social media initiative, with the Palace releasing a picture of the Sovereign holding a globe alongside the hashtag #strongtogether. It was accompanied by the message: “In the difficult period we are going through, where the course of our lives remains suspended, HSHs Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene thank all those who face this terrible ordeal with strength and determination. Let us keep the spirit of unity and solidarity flowing with courage and patience. I rely on all of you.”
So far, there have been a number of people joining the solidarity campaign, including athletes and cheerleaders of AS Monaco Basketball, hospital staff, public authorities, businessman Cédric Biscay from Shibuya Productions, the Grimaldi Forum and Monaco’s new Archbishop Dominique-Marie David.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-32LpvDWfJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
 
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-6jLVjHQ_Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Jean-Luc Biamonti, Chairman of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, sent out his own  message alongside a photograph: “Through this message, let us be united and supportive in this challenging time.”
 
 
 
 

Dogs being taught to detect Covid-19

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/04/2020

Man’s best friend is now on its way to becoming man’s best defence against the coronavirus as a British charity looks into training dogs to detect the virus in humans.  
UK association Medical Detection Dogs have spent years researching dogs and how their uncanny sense of smell may be used for more than just hunting truffles. The charity has already successfully taught dogs to detect malaria, and now they are planning to tackle the novel coronavirus.
The science behind this is simpler than it seems. Through their research, Medical Detection Dogs has formulated a hypothesis that each disease has its own particular odour. Using this as a basis, the organisation has begun preparations for concentrated dog training to give the public health sector a rapid, non-invasive and inexpensive diagnosis. They estimate the training will take six weeks.
The way they teach the dogs is by giving them samples to smell in a controlled training room. When they find a positive sample, they alert the human in charge, much the way a drug-seeking canine is used in law enforcement.
Once trained, dogs could also be used to sniff out and identify infected travellers entering countries or be deployed in other public spaces to keep the disease from spreading.
“In principle, we’re sure that dogs could detect Covid-19. We are now looking into how we can safely catch the odour of the virus from patients and present it to the dogs”, Dr Claire Guest, CEO and Co-Founder of Medical Detection Dogs said. “The aim is that dogs will be able to screen anyone, including those who are asymptomatic and tell us whether they need to be tested. This would be fast, effective and non-invasive and make sure the limited NHS testing resources are only used where they are really needed.”
Of course, the dogs could be used anywhere, such as at the Monaco borders, giving public safety officers a first line of defence and a way to alert infected people that they should seek medical attention.
This could be a real game changer in the fight against the disease which has already topped 1.8 million cases.
Professor James Logan, Department Head of Disease Control at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine agrees, saying, “Our previous work demonstrated that dogs can detect odours from humans with a malaria infection with extremely high accuracy – above the World Health Organisation standards for a diagnostic. We know that other respiratory diseases like Covid-19 change our body odour so there is a very high chance that dogs will be able to detect it. This new diagnostic tool could revolutionise our response to Covid-19 in the short term, but particularly in the months to come, and could be profoundly impactful.”
 
 
 

CMB initiates campaign for Princess Grace Hospital

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/04/2020

The Compagnie Monégasque de Banque (CMB) has set up a fund-raising campaign to benefit the Princess Grace Hospital Centre of Monaco.

The new donation drive set up by CMB is in addition to the €100,000 already granted by the bank to help the hospital run smoothly during the health crisis. The fund-raiser is a way for Monegasque citizens and residents to do their part in tandem to the work of the bank by pledging contributions on an email address specifically set up for this reason. The email, donationcmb-chpg@cmb.mc, will provide information for anyone wishing to donate.

“More than ever, CMB is acting as a committed partner in support of those who are on the front line against this pandemic,” said Francesco Grosoli, CMB’s CEO. “We only wish one thing… that everyone’s action is exemplary and in a spirit of solidarity. This is how we are participating in a concrete way in the establishment of the best conditions for a return to normal life as soon as possible.”

All monies collected will go toward the purchasing of protective essentials for the hospital’s health care workers. This is on top of the 11,000 masks and 800 litres of hydroalcoholic gel delivered by CMB since the start of confinement. 

Benoîte de Sevelinges, Director of the CHPG, thanked everyone for their contributions and emphasised that, “in this period that is as complicated as it is exceptional, the energy, know-how and unfailing determination of all the hospital professionals who enable the hospital to fulfil its mission are a great blessing.”

 

 

Rencontres Philosophiques offerings during lockdown

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/04/2020

Confinement continues but that doesn’t mean the public need miss out on the activities that the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco are putting on, with new content available every day.
The Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco is hosting a plethora of online events to help get through this confinement period, including conferences, round tables, masterclasses and special shows all organised with thinkers and philosophers and recorded in accessible online audio versions on Spotify, Deezer, Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.
These events complement their daily activities such as reading recommendations, inspirational quotes, social networking opportunities, philosophical news, videos and podcasts as well as a new special and relevant series just for the crisis they call the Philosophical Antivirus series.
In this series of interviews, Joseph Cohen invites thinkers and philosophers to weigh in on the current health crisis and discuss the impacts on the world at large. The antivirus series is broadcast on PhiloTV, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and on the Princess Grace Hospital network.
In addition to the meetings and events, the site presents the complete biographies and bibliographies of the speakers, listings of the philosophical prizes awarded every year, publications available for sale at their bookstore and member programmes.
For more information visit their website at http://philomonaco.com/