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Day: 15 May 2020

Covid tests: all your questions answered

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/05/2020

From Tuesday 19th May, the government of Monaco will begin testing everyone in the Principality for Covid-19 who wish to be tested.
Monegasques and residents aged five and over are invited to appear at two testing centres, from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, according to the table below.
This unprecedented initiative is undoubtedly raising plenty of questions, so the government has attempted to provide some answers.
Who will be tested?
All residents and employees of the Principality who wish to do so will be able to benefit from a free test. In total, almost 90,000 people will be tested in the Principality.
Do I have to be tested?
No, the test is carried out on a voluntary basis. The Prince’s Government will first propose it to all residents and then to employees of the Principality.
How is the test taken and how will I be contacted?
A letter will soon be sent by the government to residents’ homes with details on how and where to get tested.
In order to facilitate the screening of families living under the same roof, members of the same family who wish to can go at the same time with their spouse and children. To be tested, the patient must fill out a document confirming their consent to be tested.
What type of test is performed?
The test is a serological test called Rapid Diagnostic Orientation Test (TROD), which involves taking a drop of blood at the fingertip. The test is not painful. There are no special precautions to take for the patient, and fasting is not necessary. The results are known after about 10 minutes.
What happens if the serological test is positive?
If the test is positive, the patient will be offered a blood test to confirm the first result. This blood test will be carried out in a laboratory on the prescription of a doctor from the test centre who will be on site. This blood test will also be paid for by the State. The results will be communicated after one or two days. If this second analysis confirms the patient’s positivity, they could then be asked to perform a PCR test if necessary.
If the blood drop test is negative, it means that the patient has never been in contact with the virus. There is therefore no additional step to take, except to respect the general health instructions such as physical distancing, wearing a mask and hand hygiene.
What is the PCR test?
The PCR is a test that takes a few seconds and can be more or less painful depending on the sensitivity of each person. To confirm or deny the presence of the virus, deep nasal cells are removed using a long cotton swab that is inserted into the nasal cavities, up to about 15 cm. It takes three to six hours to analyse a sample.
What is the difference between a PCR test and a serological test?
The PCR test is based on the detection of the virus genome, from a nasopharyngeal sample. It confirms whether the person, at the time of the test, is infected with the virus. The serological test searches for antibodies of classes IgM and IgG specific to SARS-CoV-2 in a blood sample. It makes it possible to define the immune status of a person, to know if they are immunised against the virus, even if they have not shown symptoms of Covid-19.
Where do serological tests take place?
The government will specify where each individual should go to get tested. Two sites in the Principality will welcome patients: the Grimaldi Forum and Espace Léo Ferré. There is no point in going there if it is not the day of your appointment. For organisational reasons and in order to limit the waiting time of patients, slots will be indicated for everyone.
Who pays for these serological tests?
The entire cost of the tests is borne by the State. Patients who would like to have more tests can contact a laboratory or a local doctor. These additional tests, which would not be organised or prescribed by the State, will then be at their expense.
Who will be administering the tests?
The serological tests will be taken by a team of school nurses, volunteers from the Monaco Red Cross and Fight Aids Monaco, as well as public personnel trained in screening. All examinations are conducted under the supervision of doctors from the Health Department.
How will I be informed of the result of the serological test?
The result is known after about 10 minutes, so you will receive your answer directly, in person.
Why test the whole population?
“We cannot stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected,” says the government. “The objective is both to reassure the population of the Principality and to assess seroprevalence. That is to say the percentage of the population that has crossed or come into contact with the virus, in order to determine the circulation of the virus and the degree of natural immunity to this virus.
How is our personal information processed?
The Prince’s Government has assured that people’s anonymity will be preserved and the confidentiality of this medical information will be controlled by the CCIN.

 
 
 

Back to work for Ballets de Monte-Carlo

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/05/2020

All dancers of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo have been given Covid-19 tests ahead of a return to the company and rigorous training schedules. 

The Ballet was given the all-clear to start work again on 4th May and began by taking measures to ensure the health and safety of all involved. The studios were thoroughly disinfected, and dancers were advised of the precautions needed to be taken, such as regular hand washing, social distancing, masks, temperature taking, and use of sanitising gel which is provided by dispensers in the studio.

Dancers were given masks specially designed for them by the costumers of the ballet.

As a second line of defence, the Monegasque Red Cross carried out Covid-19 blood screening tests last Wednesday at the Atelier des Ballets de Monte-Carlo on all of the Ballet’s dancers and staff in order to verify the immunity of each. This was a required step for the troupe before the resumption of any activity would be considered.

These measures will allow the company’s dancers to resume training in the safest possible environment and will be closely monitored by their health teams.

To celebrate, they put together this great little video:

 
 

Mediathèque: home deliveries and “take aways”

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/05/2020

Monaco’s Mediathèque media centre is now offering a new way for the public to access books, DVDs, games and other documents that are currently unavailable due to the restraints brought on by the health crisis.

The Mediathèque may not be open to the public but they are happy to facilitate ways of getting their products to those who want them by simply filling out a pre-order form online or by placing a call to them Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm.

Home delivery service is available for the elderly and vulnerable of Monaco, with regular delivery schedules occurring on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30am to 12:30pm and again from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

“Take away” options can be picked up from the Louis Notari Library by appointment, also on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11am to 1pm and from 4pm to 6pm. Customers can briefly park their cars for pick-ups outside the library entrance.

To return the items borrowed, there are drop-off box sites in several locations around the Principality. They are located in front of the Louis Notari Library and the Caroline Library, as well as behind the Sonotheque-Videotheque. Home delivery clients can return them during the regular delivery hours by appointment.

“Surprise baskets” are also on offer for kids. The choice can be made between cinema, youth or music, and a selection of books, CDs, DVDs and other documents pertinent to the theme will be hand-selected by the Mediathèque team for the utmost enjoyment. The team is on call to assist with suggestions ahead of time, if desired.

To ensure safety, all items are isolated for 48 hours after use before being disinfected and returned to service.

To make an order, visit www.mediatheque.mc or call +377 93 15 29 40

 
Photo: Mairie of Monaco
 

Vettel’s departure puts Leclerc in the driver’s seat

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/05/2020

Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel is parting ways with Ferrari after six years, making way for up and comer Charles Leclerc to take his place as their unofficial number one.

As news of Sebastian Vettel’s departure from Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season circulates, there are rumours abound as to the real reasons why. The German insists it was not money, though it was whispered that Ferrari’s new contract offer was paying him less. It’s not possible that it has to do with this season’s performance as Covid has aborted that. It also isn’t about retirement, as word has it that he is in discussions with at least one other team.

So, what is it that’s having him walk away?

Signs point to the troubled season the veteran pilot had last year within the team, and more specifically with the power plays between him and Charles Leclerc, though both men hotly deny this claim. It may also be because Vettel didn’t feel Ferrari had his back the way he wanted them to.

“In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it’s vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony,” said Vettel, who became part of Team Ferrari in 2015. “The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season.” 
Ferrari management is also trying to stomp out any embers that the rivalry was the reason before a full-blown fire erupts, saying the two parties are parting on the best of terms.  
Team boss Mattia Binotto said in a statement that, “This is a decision taken jointly by ourselves and Sebastian, one which both parties feel is for the best. It was not an easy decision to reach, given Sebastian’s worth as a driver and as a person. There was no specific reason that led to this decision, apart from the common and amicable belief that the time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives.”
At the start, the relationship between Leclerc and Vettel was that of apprentice and master, but it soon became apparent that Leclerc was ready for more, faster than expected. By the end of last season, Vettel seemed to have relinquished his role of tutor, giving Leclerc permission to take on a bigger role.
For his part, the Monegasque pilot says he will miss Vettel.
Leclerc took to Twitter to express his feelings and said, “It’s been a huge honour for me to be your teammate. We’ve had some tense moments on tracks. Some very good ones and some others that didn’t end as we both wanted, but there was always respect, even though it wasn’t perceive this way from the outside. I’ve never learnt so much as I did with you as my teammate. Thank you for everything Seb.”
Now that Vettel has departed, Leclerc will be looked to by his team and his bosses to bring home a World Championship. He will have his work cut out for sure, on that front and on one more. Reports are saying that Ferrari is looking at Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo or Spaniard Carlos Sainz as Vettel’s replacement. Both men placed well last season, at 9th and 6th respectively, and both are as driven as Leclerc for a World Championship.
Until Ferrari announces their pick, it’s wait and see.  
 
 

What is the 100km rule?

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/05/2020

Questions and confusion about the latest rules regarding travel during deconfinement have been swirling. Here are some answers to clear things up.

As the de-escalation of lockdown ends its first week, there are still many people who are not entirely clear on the rules of travel for France and Monaco.  

Freedom of travel is permitted for French citizens and residents, so long as it remains within 100km of home and does not cross country or department borders. This distance is calculated “as the crow flies”, meaning in a straight line radius from your front door, not distance clocked on the road. Monaco is included in this rule, though crossings into Monaco by non-residents still requires a justifiable reason, such as work, school or family emergencies.   

Unrestricted border crossings into Italy are also currently still not allowed unless it is for work or other valid reasons, until at least 15th June. Cross border workers must carry a special international travel exemption declaration at all times.

Travelling abroad outside of Monaco or France is dependent upon the individual country and the reason for going. Travellers with Monaco passports going to the UK and Spain will need to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival into either country. Confusingly, French citizens are exempt from the quarantine in the UK by special dispensation between the two country’s governments.

The European Commission met Wednesday and presented their recommendations for opening internal borders within the EU, which may further expand the reach of Monegasque travellers in the coming weeks, but as of time of writing, no concrete plans have been set in motion on this front.