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Month: April 2020

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
 
 

Amazon extends warehouse closures

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2020

Amazon announced Monday that they would keep distribution centre doors shut until 5th May after a judge in France rejected their appeal restricting deliveries during the Covid epidemic.
Amazon has been a lifeline for many people during the health crisis who have had no access to goods apart from food and medicine since lockdown began. But from 16th April, the behemoth US online retailer has been blocked from making deliveries of all but hygiene, medical or food stuffs in Monaco and France pending a review of safety measures for its approximately 10,000 employees.
Employees in certain distribution centres staged a walkout previous to the ruling, citing that government imposed social distancing measures were not being complied with at the sites.
When French courts agreed with the employees, Amazon closed its distribution centres, though they quickly appealed the order. On Friday, a ruling by a court in Versailles rejected their appeal application but decided that the retailer would be allowed a wider range of goods to be delivered.
The new verdict allows digital products, office goods, pet supplies, drinks and personal care products as well as the essential health and food goods allowed in the previous ruling. They also lessened the fines for any violations from €1 million to €100,000 per breach.
Even still, the fines imposed could be costly for the company. In a statement issued publicly, Amazon said that the fines for non-compliance “could result in a penalty of more than $1 billion per week.”
They went on to say that, “Our distribution centres in France and around the world are safe. The decision rendered today by the Versailles Court of Appeal reinforces the idea that the main issue is not so much security, as the desire of certain trade union organisations to take advantage of a complex consultation process with social and economic committees. We have involved social and economic committees since the start of this crisis in order to agree on the security measures that have been deployed at all our sites, and we are proud of the many adaptations that we have put in place in a concerted manner to ensure the safety of our teams, while serving our customers in France and around the world.
“We do not think that this decision is in the best interest of the French, our collaborators and the thousands of VSEs and French SMEs who rely on Amazon to develop their activities. Unfortunately, this means that we have no choice but to extend the temporary suspension of the activity of our French distribution centres.”
 

Scientists offer safe back to school advice

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2020

France’s Covid-19 Scientific Advisory Board has issued a series of recommendations for parents and students to try and keep schools as safe as possible when de-escalation starts in mid-May.

Obligatory masks, regular school cleanings and a strict adherence to social distancing rules are the hallmarks of the French Scientific Advisory Board’s advice for students preparing to return to school after 11th May.

The same advice will no doubt be adopted by the Principality, who is looking to make the transition back to a semblance of normality as seamless and safe as possible for the countries 6,000+ students.

The Advisory Board stated that they would have preferred a total closure until September, but as the government has deemed a return to school safe, they have set out precautions to ensure the most prudentrentrée possible.

Parents who are uncomfortable with sending their children back to school are not required to do so, though the expectation is that the burden of home schooling will fall exclusively to parents. 

Last week, the French tentatively laid out a plan of how the return would look. Children aged 5 to 7 would be the first to go back, along with those in the final year of primary (CM2). The week after, they will be joined by 11-12 year olds, 14-15 year old and 16-18 year olds. The following week, the rest of the students will be allowed back.

Under this scheme, no more than 15 children will be allowed in a classroom at the same time. This means classes will be spilt into groups with some being taught, whilst others are outdoors playing sport or are in other rooms studying.

Critics of the decision don’t believe the social distancing rules are possible to follow as children naturally gravitate to each other, making it a bit like herding cats in the best of situations. Many schools are already at or over capacity and simply do not have additional rooms to put students when they are not engaged in class work or exercise.

Despite the concerns, preparations are being made and unless another setback occurs, kids will be heading back in a few weeks. More details on how the return will work will be forthcoming in the next days and weeks.

 
 

Dancing through lockdown

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/04/2020

Every day at 10.30am, Monte-Carlo Ballet principal dancer Alessandra Tognoloni starts her morning quarantine class. She has a 1.5 square metre piece of linoleum to dance on – a gift from choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot.
“We don’t have the space in our homes, but just having a floor for the pointe shoes, so they do not slide and where we can do some exercises, makes a lot of difference,” Alessandra tells me from her home in Monaco. The Italian native has been a resident of the Principality now for 16 years. “It is really hard, of course, to do a job alone which you would normally do with other people. You also have to take care of yourself; you have to be the one who decides how much you need to do and how long you need to rest for, it is really difficult.”
This is the Monte-Carlo Ballet’s fifth week in lockdown. An average day for Alessandra now involves an early ballet class followed by a pointe shoes class from 11am to 1pm, yoga from 3pm to 6.30pm, then a Zoom cardio workout until 7.30pm.

It is impossible for dancers to complete a normal ballet class each day, so they focus on flexibility and staying fit – gym workouts, pilates, yoga, and pointe classes.
“The Monte-Carlo Ballet company has organised a pilates teacher on Zoom for us so everybody can connect every day for one hour. Then the girls have a pointe shoe class with the directrice three times a week to keep the strength in our feet, so when we eventually do go back, we will not have to start from the beginning.”
She expects the dancers to be at about 80% capacity when they return to the company. But exactly when that will be, remains uncertain. Monaco’s lockdown will be lifted on 4th May, however social-distancing measures are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future – which is difficult to achieve for a team of dancers.

Photo by Alice Blangero

“It is really hard to think ahead because ballet, like any other sport, relies on contact. We can’t maintain social distancing while we work, so perhaps we will be one of the last to start our normal daily routine,” reflects Alessandra.
While many people are appreciating the fact that their lives have been forced to slow-down during confinement, Alessandra and her fellow dancers fear losing a significant portion of their careers due to lockdown.
“We are all a bit scared because we don’t know how long it is going to take for us to be able to perform again. It is not normal for us to not go on stage for three months, unless you have an injury. A dancer’s career is not long – this is time that is being taken away from us and nobody can give it back. I am 34, three months of my career is like three years in the career of a person who can work until they’re 60.”
Nonetheless, Alessandra remains upbeat and positive about the situation and the opportunities that it has provided. Like many dancers across the world, she has been hosting classes on her Instagram – something she would never have considered before the crisis.
“What is really nice at the moment is that a lot of dancers have been getting together and doing classes online. I give around four classes a week through my Instagram to people who want to follow, which helps me because it can be depressing doing my exercises alone all the time. This way I get to connect with people through social media and I don’t feel so alone.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Zn11Bqr4X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In a sector that thrives on in-person connection, the loss of an audience is disastrous. Yet, the resilience of performers moving into the digital arena, streaming classes and sharing their training routines, is re-energising the industry and attracting a new generation of culture lovers.
Meanwhile, the rise of Covid-19 has forced many different cultural institutions – museums, theatres, orchestras – to explore alternative digital spaces with online performances. The Monte-Carlo Ballet company has been delighting virtual audiences with two broadcasts each week of previous shows.
“If we don’t keep up the interest, people forget about us. Ballet is something you have to teach people to love. It is not like growing up with football,” says Alessandra. “So, the weekly broadcasts are a good way for the Monte-Carlo Ballet to stay alive in Monaco and throughout the entire world. It is a very well-known company internationally as we normally tour every month.”
Alessandra would like to see the live streaming of shows become a regular feature once things return to normal, and she is sure her choreographer has a few tricks up his sleeve.
“I have to say that I am really positive, because my director, Jean-Christophe Maillot, is a very creative man and ballet is a creative art, so I am sure he is going to come out of this with many ideas.”
You can watch Monte-Carlo Ballet performances on the www.monacoinfo.com website every Wednesday and Friday at 5pm (CEST).
 
 

The rise of digital health care

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/04/2020

The government has authorised doctors to tele-consult with patients in certain situations, allowing health care providers to perform a variety of tasks that don’t require face-to-face interaction. 

Desperate times call for desperate measures. At least that’s what the old adage says. But in this time of crisis, an emerging system born out of necessity may become a blueprint for the future of health care in the Principality.

Tele-consultations have been authorised by the government giving leeway to health care providers, whose specialities allow it, to practice whilst maintaining the rules of confinement. These consultations are ideal for patients who do not physically need to be seen by a doctor, and therefore are conducive to a number of follow-ups or ongoing medical treatments.

This solution gives patients the peace of mind of being able to speak with their trusted health care professional without endangering themselves or their provider. No waiting room visits keep the possibility of contamination at bay, whilst still giving patients what they need. These “visits” also are far less time consuming for both patient and doctor. As it is all done digitally, basic services can be provided without travel time, waits or unnecessary delays.  

The Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG) is already using teleconferencing, and now the Institut Monegasque de Medicine du Sport (IM2S), the Cardiothoracic Centre and many doctors and midwives are taking advantage of this solution. The government has compiled a list of participating health care specialists who are using this system which can be found on the website that was set up for the crisis at www.covid19.mc

France has tried this method and is finding great success. Training requires less than 20 minutes for professionals and includes an online payment option, a videoconferencing tool, and a secure prescription authorisation module for patients. The billing process for insurance reimbursement remains the same.

Tele-consultations are accessed through a secure link sent to the patients email address, sent by the health care provider when the patient makes the appointment. The first of these appointments have started and have successfully been achieved, making this method a viable permanent solution when de-escalation begins in earnest.

 
Photo: Pixabay
 

Interview: Yoga teacher Alicia Anka

by: Natasha Girardi
28/04/2020

Alicia Anka is a long-time resident of Monaco, who brings the community together with her good-will, writing, English teaching and yoga classes.
Her yoga practice is a powerful journey into oneself; she guides her students through a tailormade practice with yoga poses themed to a particular emotion and philosophy.
I feel like I have had my karma dry-cleaned and my mind set to a more peaceful mode thanks to Alicia.
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Monaco Life: What is your first memory of Monaco?
Alicia Anka: When I was a child, we would come to Monaco during the summer to visit my mother’s parents. My father also entertained here in the summer, so the trip served two purposes. We would float around the Mediterranean or travel around Europe. Of course, when you are young you have less perspective, but I look back on that time now and how Monaco was then – so much style and charm – and I feel fortunate to have known it then.
How did you get into yoga and teaching?
I found yoga in my early 20s. I was living alone in San Diego at the time, struggling with back pain and general ‘who am I, post-university angst’, and I stumbled upon a coupon for a free yoga and meditation class at my health food store. So, I tried it, and from there my yoga journey began.
I had always been quite athletic. I ran a lot, went to the gym, so the physical challenge of the practice appealed to me. I also had this inner quest since I was a little girl to find something deeper than just my day-to-day experience of things. I was searching for something to feed my spiritual side. In those days, the yoga scene in California was really growing and studios were popping up everywhere.
I did five years of Bikram Yoga and five years of Ashtanga. Then I discovered what we call Vinyasa Flow Yoga. In 2002, I moved to Monaco after meeting my husband here. And shortly after that, I spent a month doing a teacher training course in a Sivananda ashram in Austria, which really developed my sense of discipline towards my practice.
I taught a little off and on after that, but I didn’t consider myself a yoga teacher. I am not sure if I would call that my profession now, either. I am also an English teacher, a content writer and I like being able to wear many hats.
But five years ago, I met my teacher Nico Luce when he came to Monaco to do the first Breathe as One yoga event, and that meeting changed my yoga life forever. I know that sounds corny, and Nico is far from being or acting like a guru. There was something about the way he approached yoga and its vast world of teachings that made it feel even more valuable to me, that made my desire to share it with others even stronger.
So, to this day, I continue to study with him and to learn from him, and I am forever grateful for what’s he’s added to my experience here on earth. Yoga is not a quick fix, it’s a path you choose, and I’m on it for life, no matter how bumpy it gets!
What does your teaching look like in Monaco and how has it changed during the Covid-19 period?
It isn’t easy for yoga teachers in Monaco. Rents are incredibly expensive, and the laws are not set up so that we teachers can share spaces like artists can. I worked for a while for Yoga Shala Studio and was very sad when they closed their doors, as were many. Then I tried for a while to open my own space, but the lease did not work out. So now I teach private and small-group classes in people’s homes and that works for now, as I am also a mother of two young children. For me, life is about balance and I am fortunate enough to be able to approach it that way. As far as this period of time goes, I am 24/7 with my two kids and my husband, so time to myself and for work is limited. However, I am giving daily free yoga classes on Zoom in order to stay connected with my community of students and to this practice that I love. I know how much it helps me stay on course, and I have witnessed how it has helped those around me, so that’s why it’s more important now than ever to keep sharing it. I am blessed to have students that appreciate the practice.
What keeps you sane during this time?
I have had days where I didn’t feel so sane. I am a person who needs her space, needs quiet and being confined with a two-yearold, a 10-year-old our dog and my husband has its challenges. Some days I feel like I am just barely surviving. But I seek solace in my yoga and meditation practice and my teaching.
And walks with the dog, talking with my sisters, reading my favourite author Mark Nepo, listening to good music or taking a time out on the couch and listening to binaural beats. I think the trick is not to be too hard on ourselves. Not to expect too much. To be really present and take it day by day. Hour by hour. To create the space to be alone and to FEEL everything, if you need it. And to do the things that make you feel good. Okay, maybe not too excessively! But know what you need and want out of this time.
For example, I need alone time and to move, so I get up at 6am before my family, I write in my journal, read a passage from Mark Nepo’s book ‘The One Life We’re Given’, and then I go for a run and do my yoga. That’s my time, and no matter how tired I am, I make it happen because it sets my day up.
How do you see the world going forward?
I was incredibly sad for the world when this all started. I cried a lot for humanity. I feared what we would become if we were locked away for too long. And now I am sad about the loss. Not just for the lives lost, but for the financial loss the world is experiencing. It’s going to change a lot of lives, and not for the better. So, I am not sure how I see things panning out.
I think on one hand there is this big movement of people who are giving things for free right now, just sharing their gifts with the world, and I think that’s beautiful. I think that ‘giving spirit’ will continue.
I also think it’s great that Mother Earth got a big break and has had the time to replenish herself.
On the other hand, I think there will be a lot of suffering for a while, and an underlying fear will continue to change the way we live. People are getting more and more used to this ‘behind closed doors lifestyle’ where everything is accessed remotely. I don’t think that’s the healthiest for human beings. True human connection is too important. But we are resilient and we’ll come back from this. I look at my children and how full of life they are, and I know that we must.
Lastly, what is your mantra or words of wisdom that you live by?
Right now, I would say, ‘Be authentic’. And come from a place of love, not fear or judgement. Going forward, I think those two things will be decisive in the way we live and what we can contribute.
For more information, visit: aliciaanka.com
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