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Month: April 2020

Inside the quiet corridors of Monaco's aquarium

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/04/2020

Never in its 110-year history has the Oceanographic Museum ever had to close its doors for more than a few days. Even during two World Wars the museum remained open to the public.
In April, thousands of families normally flood the dark corridors of the museum’s aquarium to admire the thousands of fish, corals, and the new turtle rehabilitation centre.
But the only people to grace this grand old dame now are a team of dedicated staff, tasked with keeping its inhabitants healthy and the aquarium running smoothly during lockdown.
To understand more about how the aquarium operates behind closed doors, Monaco Life spoke to its curator Olivier Brunel, who was just getting geared up to clean the turtle enclosure.

Olivier Brunel, Aquarium Curator

Monaco Life: The aquarium is the main drawcard of the Oceanographic Museum. How many fish live there?
That’s a difficult question to answer. While it is easy to keep track of the number of big fish and sharks, it is difficult to know the exact number of fish in the aquarium, like clown fish for example. But we estimate it to be between 6,000 and 10,000 fish. Meanwhile, we have over 300 fish species and 550 species of corals.
Is it strange to be inside the aquarium now during lockdown, with no visitors?
We are getting used to it now, but at first it was very strange to see the museum empty with no visitors, as well as no colleagues.
Well, we actually have the technical team still working, and those in charge of cleaning and disinfecting the museum, so it’s nice to have them here. And some of the administrative teams are here also. The aquarium team is now made up of between six to eight people to reduce the amount of contact we have between each other, and we alternate the days that we are physically working on site. There are around 20 to 25 people in the museum currently, whereas normally there are more than 100 staff working simultaneously.

Why is it important for staff to remain at the aquarium during lockdown?
It is incredibly important that we are here. Firstly, we have to take care of the fish, to feed them and keep an eye on them. We also have to check the temperature of the water, lights, pumps, oxygen etc – everything that keeps the fish alive. Thankfully, I can also connect to the network from my computer at home to check levels.
Normally, we clean the glass panels of the aquariums for visitors to see the fish. We must continue to do this – even though there are no visitors – because dirt will build up and it will become very difficult to remove after a week, for example.
So, we basically maintain the daily work schedule as we did before. We haven’t actually changed many things, we have just reorganised the work to be done with less people.

So, how many people normally pass through the Oceanographic Museum?
Each year, there are 650,000 visitors, so for the fish and for us it can get very busy, particularly during the summer.
We have seen some interesting videos from across the world of animals’ reactions during lockdown, like the penguins let loose in a Chicago zoo. Do you have any similar quirky stories or have you noticed a difference in behaviour of the fish now the crowds are gone?
Well, we don’t have penguins (laughing) but I think that the fish are enjoying this period because there is no one taking pictures of them with a flash, there are no kids tapping on the glass panels, there is no noise… nothing. I think they are appreciating the peace and quiet to be honest. We also have more time to check the aquariums at different times during the day, so I would say that we are able to pay more attention to them than normal.

Apart from the entertainment, what role do aquariums play?
We have a team who works closely with schools and kids on educating about the fish in the aquarium but also the oceans on a larger scale. Our mission is to educate people, not simply to show them the fish. I always say that our job is to make the aquarium as nice as possible so that people can be amazed, and then we can start to explain that, yes it is beautiful, but it is also in danger and if we don’t do anything to change our habits, then it might not stay this beautiful forever.
 
Photos: Monaco Life, all rights reserved. Top photo: Cory Trépanier
 

Prince resumes public duties

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/04/2020

Prince Albert has made his first public visit since contracting Covid-19, visiting workers in two key support centres in Monaco.
On Thursday 16th April, the Prince went to the Rainier III Auditorium which houses both the Covid-19 Call Centre and the Home Patient Monitoring Centre, two structures established by the government.
It was the first public outing by the Prince who, on 31st March, was given the all-clear by doctors after testing positive for the virus on 16th March. Three days later the Palace revealed that the Head of State would remain in confinement in his private apartment while his family – Princess Charlene and twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella – were in their country home behind Monaco.

Prince Albert has his temperature tested before entering the Covid-19 Call Centre in Monaco © Photos G. Luci / Palais Princier

Accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Didier Gamerdinger, Prince Albert first had his temperature tested before visiting the Covid-19 Call Centre, which was established at the start of the epidemic to answer questions from the people of Monaco with regards to the health crisis and the government’s response. The unit is comprised of staff from the Department of Health, volunteers from the Monaco Red Cross, and a supervising doctor.
The call centre received upto 200 calls a day during its peak, eventually dropping to around 80. A growing number of calls related to mental health prompted the government to boost psychological support through the network.
© Photos G. Luci / Palais princier

The Prince on Thursday also visited the Home Patient Monitoring Centre, which is currently responsible for the care of 101 people suffering only minor symptoms of Covid-19. This unit is also manned by staff from the Health Department, social workers, Monaco Red Cross volunteers, psychologists and other medical staff from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre.
© Photos G. Luci / Palais Princier

The Covid-19 Call Centre can be reached by calling 92 05 55 00 and is open seven days a week from 9am to 6pm. It is also contactable by e-mail: covid19@gouv.mc.
 
 

AS Monaco helps in fight against Covid-19

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/04/2020

AS Monaco has created a fundraising drive to assist those working on the front lines of the Covid-19 health crisis in the Principality.
The Red and Whites have mobilised to participate in the fight against the coronavirus through their charity program, AS Monacoeur, by providing financial support to the Monegasque Red Cross. They are asking for online donations from the whole AS Monaco community and have started by pledging €50,000 themselves on behalf of the club.
All funds collected will go toward Covid-related projects being championed by the Red Cross. Amongst them are support for volunteers and employees who are manning the call centre, supplying masks, medicine and food for the community’s most vulnerable, as well as offering assistance to their international counterparts struggling in other parts of the world.
“In this period of general mobilisation against Covid-19, it is important to show solidarity and for AS Monaco to be able to make itself useful through these initiatives,” says Vice President and General Manager Oleg Petrov. “Many people are on the front line every day in dealing with the crisis, including hospital staff and Red Cross volunteers, and I wish, on behalf of the whole club, to pay them all the tribute they deserve.”
Additionally, AS Monaco has made the club’s training centre in La Turbie and the academy accommodation centre available for blood donations to be directed to the Princess Grace Hospital.
“The establishments are still in desperate need as ever and it seems natural to us to pass on this message to help as much as we can in this health crisis,” explains AS Monaco’s Chief Medical Officer, Lluis Til-Pérez. “During the confinement period, it is possible to travel to give blood, particularly in the specialised centre at the CHPG, where everything has been set up for this purpose.”
Launched in 2017, AS Monacoeur programmes include a broad range of initiatives that focus on education, charitable pursuits and the social sector.
To donate to the Monegasque Red Cross, visit www.gofundme.com/f/asmonaco. For blood donations to the Blood Transfusion Center of the Princess Grace Hospital Center, find all the information here at https://www.chpg.mc/don-du-sang/. If you prefer to give blood in France, go to an EFS collection site. The information can be found at https://dondesang.efs.sante.fr/
 
 

#LightItBlue celebrating front-liners

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/04/2020

The Prince’s Palace and the Grimaldi Forum have joined in the worldwide campaign #LightItBlue, supporting health care workers and those on the front lines fighting the Covid-19 crisis.

The two buildings were bathed in blue on Thursday evening to celebrate the efforts of those putting themselves on the line to fight the coronavirus and keep us safe.

The shout out is obviously meant for doctors, nurses and first responders, but also to those keeping the business of life humming along, such as supermarket employees and sanitation and municipal workers, despite the standstill the rest of us are experiencing.  

The Grimaldi Forum bathed in blue, photo courtesy the Grimaldi Forum

#LightItBlue is a growing worldwide phenomenon that started in the UK. Notable landmarks such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Space Needle in Seattle, the Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo, and Tower Bridge in London have all gone blue and the list continues to grow.

Much like its sister campaign, #MakeAJoyfulNoise, which encourages people to applaud from their windows and balconies each evening, the lighting initiative is meant to deliver a unified “thank you” to all those who have been risking their lives to save ours during the health crisis.

 
 

Amazon is out of action

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/04/2020

Amazon has closed its six French distribution centres after a French court ruled that it was not doing enough to protect workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
With lockdown measures forcing the closure of all non-essential businesses, Amazon has become a vital source of shopping for many households in Monaco.
However, a court in Nanterre issued an emergency ruling on Tuesday requiring the company to stop selling non-essential goods for a month while it works out new safety measures or face a penalty of €1 million for each day it fails to comply.
It follows the filing of a complaint by a French labour union which accused the online delivery giant of endangering the lives of workers.
In a statement on Wednesday, Amazon said it was “perplexed” by the court ruling and that it plans to appeal.
It said it would temporarily suspend activities in its distribution centres “despite the huge investment that we have made to ensure and strengthen by additional measures the safety of our employees who remained mobilised during this crisis.”
Sales of food, medicine and hygiene supplies are still allowed under the ruling, however Amazon France’s chief executive Frédéric Duval told RTL radio that the ruling was too vague and, given the size of the fine and the complexity of its activities, the risk was “too high” to continue operating.
The company said it will ask employees to stay at home, but “will continue to serve our customers through independent companies that sell on Amazon” via its global distribution network.
It means that customers who order from third-party companies that use the Amazon website but send items directly will still receive their goods.
Mr Duval said the company would work with unions to ensure the sites could reopen quickly, but added: “I cannot confirm at this stage on what date they will reopen.”
 
 

Raising money to support Italy

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/04/2020

Monaco’s Italian community has been raising funds to help support hospitals in the hardest-hit country in Europe, raising €70,000 so far.
AIIM President Paolo Risso spoke to Monaco Life about the campaign and how the Italian business community in Monaco is dealing with the crisis.
How have you personally found the lockdown in Monaco since it was announced four weeks ago?
Firstly, I think we should all express our best wishes to Prince Albert and the Minister of State Serge Telle for a total recovery – we need them and we need them to be strong.
Secondly, I think that the lockdown has been – as everywhere in the world – a very wise decision and I think the Monegasque nationals and residents have respected this lockdown highly.
On the other side, the lockdown has had a big impact on the economy. If you consider all the events that normally take place in Monaco during spring time – even the postponement of the Cannes Film Festival and the flow-on tourism to Monaco – it is all having a massive impact on the Principality.
Italy is now gradually lifting strict confinement measures which began five weeks ago… how have Italian businesses been impacted by the crisis?
In terms of the economy, it has been a disaster for all Italian companies – except perhaps food producers. But free entrepreneurs, real estate agents, those in shipping… we are all really struggling these days.
What is encouraging however is that despite the Italian government offering financial aid to companies, I don’t see anyone abusing this aid. We have to be grateful for the advantages that we have from living in Monaco, so now is not the time to take money from the Italian government unless you need it desperately. Rather, we must try to offer our support and I think this is what the Italian business community has been trying to do. They are trying to cope with the present conditions, firstly by supporting all the workers of the various companies.
Tourism-related businesses are obviously taking a massive hit…
There is no doubt that people will tend to stay closer to home once this lockdown is lifted across the globe. Hopefully, Monaco will benefit from people visiting from neighbouring countries, like France and Italy.
People will hopefully take advantage of the fact that Monaco has had no new cases of Covid-19 since Sunday, and has had just over 100 cases in total – this is very positive. The Princess Grace Hospital has done an amazing job, and while I am very sorry for those who have passed away, I think the government has managed this health crisis very well.
Paolo, you and I spoke just after Italy went in to lockdown, and you warned that the same was set to happen in France and Monaco. Still, it came as a surprise to everyone a week later when the lockdowns were announced…
The virus spread so quickly in the north of Italy, but it was clear that it was going to move all around Europe. We may call this continent Europe, but the EU is not really efficient in my opinion. Because the moment the situation changed in Italy, the whole of Europe should have taken advantage of the warning and launched into immediate action. Why did they wait until the situation exploded?
What is it like being in Monaco during the lockdown?
We are no more than 20,000 people in town – in my opinion – just the residents and Monegasques. I am glad to hear the Minister of State say that we will not necessarily follow France in extending the lockdown to 11thMay. I think Monaco, being a nation dependant on VAT and tourism, can’t wait for too long. But of course, we have to make sure people are safe and secure first.
How is the Italian community dealing with the crisis situation in their native country?
All of the various cultural and entrepreneurial Italian associations in Monaco have set up a bank account to support the Italian hospitals during the crisis, like Bergamo which was severely hit by the virus. All of our grandfathers are no longer there, it is incredible. We have raised up to €70,000 among the Italian community in Monaco. The initiative is being promoted by Alessandro Dalmasso – former Vice President of the AIIM.
What will the AIIM be doing in the months ahead to support the Italian entrepreneurs in Monaco?
We are trying to gather professionals in various fields – such as lawyers and accountants – to offer free assistance to members of the AIIM association. We obviously can’t organise any social events, but we want to implement assistance for the Italian entrepreneurial community in Monaco.
 
Photo: Paolo Risso, President AIIM Monaco, all rights reserved to Monaco Life