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Month: April 2020

100 free digital tablets for elderly

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/04/2020

The most isolated and vulnerable people in Monaco during the Covid-19 health crisis, the elderly, are being given free digital devices to help stay in touch with family while maintaining social distancing.
While many of us are able to navigate our way around Zoom and Teams to chat face-to-face with friends and family during the health crisis, the same can’t necessary be said for the elderly in the community – those who should maintain a certain level of confinement despite a lifting of the lockdown on Monday.
Helping in the fight against the isolation of elders, being by their side on a daily basis and promoting an intergenerational bond are the daily missions of the staff of the Service des Seniors and de l’Action Sociale.
It is within this framework that the City of Monaco, in partnership with the Children and Future association and Monaco Telecom, is providing 100 digital tablets to 100 beneficiaries of this service.
The tablets will allow the most vulnerable in the community to keep in contact – visually – with their loved ones while staying safe during the current health crisis. Service staff will be responsible for guiding them in the operation of the devices.
The Children and Future association, annual organiser of the No Finish Line fundraising event, has financed the purchase of the digital tablets, and Monaco Telecom has provided free 4G connection until the end of the year. After this date, the cost of the annual subscription will be shared equally (50%) between Monaco Telecom and the City Council.
The tablet delivery was received at the City Hall by Mayor Georges Marsan on Wednesday 29th April together with President of Children and Future Ariane Favaloro and Managing Director of Monaco Télécom Martin Peronnet.
 
 

International flights on hold

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2020

Air China, United Airlines and Delta have all confirmed they will not fly in or out of Nice until at least September. Other cancellations loom large ahead of a decision on whether to open Schengen air borders due in May.

The tarmac at Nice Airport has been eerily quiet since the start of the Covid epidemic. With the exception of a few flights, including links to Corsica and Paris nationally, and the United Kingdom internationally, all air traffic has come to a complete standstill.

Earlier in the week, the airport announced flights to three of the nine intercontinental destinations have been discontinued until autumn under a best case scenario situation.

Air China’s fledgling service from Nice to Beijing three times per week was the first to go. Even once deconfinement is over, there are still questions as to whether this service will continue as planned, or if it will be reduced or called off altogether.

American carriers United and Delta followed suit. In light of the shocking health disaster in the United States, particularly in the New York City area, the two flights from JFK and Newark have been suspended until at least September.

The news comes as rumours fly about the possible cancellation of all non-Schengen area flights until the end of the year.

The damage to the tourist industry could be immense. The anticipation of the summer season and the hordes of American visitors refilling coffers has faded almost entirely, making those in the sector more than a little nervous about the future.

All is not doom and gloom though. La Compagnie, the all business class carriers, is ready to resume service as soon as American authorities give them the green light. Air Transat, Emirates, Air Canada and Qatar have thus far not changed their summer schedules. Russian carrier Aeroflot is also maintaining its service to Moscow, St Petersburg and Ukraine, though internal Russian governmental decisions to extend border closures may affect this.

Nearly 70% of Nice Airport’s traffic is international, and disruption of service throughout the summer months will certainly affect the entire economy of the region.

In any case, everyone will be holding their breath until 11th May, the date set for the European decision as to whether Schengen air borders will be reopened or not. With so much hinging on this verdict, nerves are indeed frazzled, but hopes remain high.

 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Fabregas concedes four months salary

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2020

AS Monaco midfielder Cesc Fabregas has announced he will not be taking his usual salary for four months, as well as accepting a pay cut and offering to top up the wages of ground staff of the club’s training facilities.

The Spanish International and former Chelsea and Arsenal star was personally affected by the health crisis, revealing that his 95-year-old great-grandmother suffered with the disease, partially prompting his decision. 

The entire AS Monaco team is in talks with management regarding a 30% pay cut over the next four months in an attempt to help the Ligue 1 team’s financial woes that came about as part and parcel of the Covid epidemic. Fabregas has agreed to the cut in salary ahead of his teammates.

32-year-old Fabregas’s contribution alone come to an eye-watering €2.2 million in savings for his club. 

He is at the heart of the negotiations between the players and the club, who initially wanted a 50% reduction in pay for all players. Fabregas has been working to get the two sides come to a 30% agreement, but so far this has no materialised.  

Monaco have the second highest wage bill in their league coming in at €150 million a year, with only Paris Saint-Germain having a higher one. They also have a particularly large squad with 29 players on the roster. 

Having no games will hit the club hard financially. With the announcement on Tuesday that the rest of the Ligue 1 games for this season are cancelled and that football will not resume until September, the club will be looking to cut budgets where they can.  

When football returns in autumn, the Ligue will go directly into the 2020-21 season, and no clubs will be made to catch up on fixtures. It is still undecided whether the current standings will result in announcing the title to the current top teams or if the year will be called a wash entirely. France are the third major European league to cut their season short.

 
Photo: AS Monaco
 
 

Opera carries on despite crisis

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2020

The health crisis has been a disaster for cultural institutions in the Principality, but the Opera de Monte Carlo has found a clever way to promote themselves during these trying times, as well as offering entertainment to legions of fans and new fans alike.
Since mid-March, the Opera de Monte Carlo has been unable to perform its planned repertoire for the 2019-2020 season. The opera house, like so many other buildings, has been completely deserted. Scores of people were left without work and there was no silver lining in sight.
These have been sad times for the opera lovers of the Principality and the region in general. But instead of despairing, stage director Jean-Louis Grinda took this as an opportunity to widen his audience and give people a chance to see the beauty of the shows that would have been.
As luck would have it, the opera had been recording shows and for the past year and had been posting them on the Opera’s YouTube channel. Falstaff, Lucia de Lammermoor and La Bohème have all been presented during lockdown. The presentations have run from 20 to 40 minutes in duration, depending on the play and act, creating a sort of episodic opera scenario where people tune in anticipating the next segment.
The segments have been posted to the Opera’s Facebook page as well with the hope that seeing an opera performed would boost visibility and create new enthusiasts.
“When you put on a show on Facebook, you don’t make any money, but it is visibility, a great means of promotion,” said Mr Grinda. “Above all sharing with our audience is a good way to keep the link with them. We will continue this approach after the crisis. We just need to strike a balance.”
 
Photo: Screenshot of Opera’s performance on Youtube
 
 

Treats offered to unsung heroes of crisis

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2020

F1 champion Charles Leclerc this week joined a campaign to thank the unsung heroes of the Covid-19 health crisis, handing out treats and putting smiles on faces. 
In a show of thanks and solidarity, volunteers and assistants at the Town Hall, Monaco Red Cross and the SociĂ©tĂ© MonĂ©gasque d’Assainissement (SMA) were offered candied treats from fairground stallholders for their tireless work behind the scenes during the health crisis.
A selection of delectable items, including candied apples, nougat, lollipops and stuffed toys, were handed out to personal care assistants from the Town Hall on Tuesday by stallholders of the fair, led by the President of Stallholders Robert Dumont.
Mayor Georges Marsan welcomed the retinue, along with the Deputy Mayor of Social Affairs Camille Svara and Deputy Mayor Jacques Pastor.

Photo: Mairie de Monaco

The Town Hall wanted to spread the love and added the staffs of the SMA and Monaco Red Cross as recipients of goodies, as well. Each organisation received 200 snacks that were distributed at their headquarters.
Some lucky recipients were able to take their reward straight from the hands of Monegasque Formula Onedriver Charles Leclerc. Leclerc donated his time delivering equipment to the Princess Grace Hospital as well as passing out treats to Red Cross volunteers and staff.
Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication

Leclerc is no stranger to helping out the Red Cross. He also participates with Team Ferrari in their support of the Croce Rossa Italiano.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have also publicly shown support and appreciation of the Monaco Red Cross, posing for a photo holding signs depicting unity and universality in the face of the Covid crisis. The Sovereign Prince is President of the Red Cross in the Principality, a privilege passed down since Prince Louis II inaugurated the Red Cross of Monaco in 1948.
 
Top photo: ©Manuel Vitali/Communication Department
 

Post-lockdown plan set in motion

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/04/2020

The government has outlined its three-phase plan to pull the Principality out of lockdown, starting within the week. 
The government revealed details of the plan in a televised announcement on the evening of Tuesday 28th April. “The success of this plan will depend on the vigilance and involvement of all and will be deployed only if the health situation progresses positively,” said Health Minister Didier Gamerdinger.
The Principality will end its strict lockdown on Monday 4th May at 6am, with the government initiating the first of three stages to revive Monaco’s economic activity, while monitoring the spread of the virus.
The “stop-and-go” strategy described by Minister of State Serge Telle will involve regular checks and analysis to determine whether the government will continue with its deconfinement plan or turn back.
After 49 days of confinement, people in Monaco will be able to “move freely throughout the territory without having to justify their trips,” said Mr Telle, while congratulating Monegasques and residents for having respected the rules of strict confinement.
The lifting of the lockdown will be based on a variety of conditions, including the wide availability of hand sanitiser gel, regular disinfection of public passageways, and social distancing of 1.5 metres in all public places.
The wearing of masks will be “highly recommended” in public spaces and mandatory on public transport and in shops. The wearing of gloves is not recommended, as the government would prefer to see people washing their hands regularly.
Public gatherings of more than five people will not be allowed.
Phase one: 4th May
All retail stores will be able to open their doors, on the basis of one person per four square metres. Plexiglass is recommended at store cashier points. Places of worship will also be allowed to resume, but only on the basis of social distancing and masks. Hair salons, well-being institutions and the like can open only by appointment – waiting rooms are not authorised during this phase. Private and public construction sites will be able to operate once again, and normal bus services will resume. Private boats will be able to use the ports of Monaco and helicopter services can recommence, however large cruise ships will not be allowed to dock in Monaco’s waters. Public service employees can return to work, but telework and remote video conferencing will still be encouraged.
During the first phase of deconfinement, gatherings of upto only five people will be allowed. Permanent checks will be conducted to ensure everyone – particularly businesses – are complying with the rules.
Sports grounds and playgrounds will not be authorised to open.
Phase two: 11th May
This phase will involve the resumption of progressive and partial activity in schools, focusing on students with upcoming exams and on the condition of strict health standards, including mandatory masks for teachers and students, half classes and no sports activity.
There will be no school canteen, so students can either return home for lunch or bring a packed lunch with them.
High school students will be the first to return to classes on 11th May, followed by middle school students on 18th May, and finally primary school students on 25th May.
Kindergartens, crèches and academies/universities will remain closed.
Phase three: June
From early June, and “only if the health situation in the first two stages permit”, the government will consider, on a case-by-case basis, the reopening of restaurants and coffee shops, gaming rooms, exhibition halls, theatres and cinemas, beaches and swimming pools, gyms and sporting institutions, giving priority to those with outdoor activities.
 
Photo: © Communication Branch / Manual Vitali