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Day: 18 May 2020

Prince confirms new minister of state

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/05/2020

The Palace has officially announced that Pierre Dartout will become the Principality’s new minister of state from September 2020, replacing Serge Telle in Monaco’s most senior strategic position after the Prince.
While French media Les Echos leaked news of the placement late last week, the Palace confirmed on Monday that Prince Albert has chosen a new ‘right hand man’, and that the current Minister of State Serge Telle will be leaving office on 31st August.
“The Sovereign Prince thanks Serge Telle for his loyalty and sense of state throughout the years of his mandate, during which the Principality notably pursued its economic development, strengthening the solidity of its model of society,” said the Palace in a press release.
Stepping into the role held by Mr Telle since 2016 will be Pierre Dartout, a senior French official and current Prefect of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur.
Born in 1954 in Limoges, France, Pierre Dartout is a graduate of IEP Paris and a former student of the National School of Administration (ENA), which has produced a number of high-profile politicians including a former president – François Hollande. 66-year-old Dartout has held numerous prefectural posts in France for a quarter of a century.
“The Sovereign Prince expects Pierre Dartout to direct government action, under his authority, while respecting institutional balance,” said the Palace.
While the announcement has been made in the tentative first days of deconfinement, the Prince was quick to assure the continued management of the health crisis by the current Minister of State Serge Telle.
“Today, his mission continues in particular, in the fullness of his responsibilities, in the management of the health crisis and its economic consequences. They require, until the end of his mandate, all his energy because of the decisions that must be taken to enable our country to meet this immense challenge.”
The Minister of State of Monaco is the Principality’s head of government, subordinate to the Prince of Monaco and responsible for enforcing its laws.
 
 

Congress centre repurposed as mass testing site

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/05/2020

The Grimaldi Forum is prepped and ready to receive thousands of residents who will be tested for Covid-19, as the Principality embarks on its mass screening regime.
Normally, the Grimaldi Forum would be putting the finishing touches this week to the upcoming EVER Monaco renewable energy event, a key date in the forum’s busy calendar.
Instead, the Principality’s largest congress facility has had its schedule wiped clean and has been repurposed as a giant testing centre, where volunteers will be taking blood samples from tens of thousands of residents and employees of the Principality.
The Grimaldi Forum is one of two Covid-19 testing sites, the other is the Espace Leo Ferré in Fontvielle.

Final preparations were made on Monday ahead of testing which starts on Tuesday 19th May. It was led by Colonel Tony Varo, Superior Commander of the Public Force, Christophe Orsini, Technical Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, and Ludmilla Raconnat Le Goff, General Secretary of DASS.
The mass testing programme will bring together doctors, nurses and volunteers to take the samples, as well as security personnel in charge of enforcing the correct order of passage, the compulsory wearing of masks and social distancing measures.

Residents should have already been notified by post of their position in the testing schedule and which of the two sites they can go to. On Tuesday 19th, Espace Leo Ferré will welcome people whose surnames begin with the letter A, while the Grimaldi Forum will take people whose surnames begin with the letter B, between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
The government aims to test around 90,000 residents and employees of Monaco, however the tests are voluntary.
 
Photos: © Direction de la Communication / Michael Alesi
 
 

Italy restarts economy but keeps guard up

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/05/2020

Customers in Italy are once again sipping their espressos at the bar and eating their pizzas in public, as the country’s restaurants and cafés finally throw open their doors after 10 weeks in lockdown.
Monday 18th May marked a major step forward on the road to recovery for Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s Covid-19 outbreak and the first to impose strict nationwide restrictions in early March. The reopening of bars, restaurants, cafés, museums and hairdresser salons came two weeks earlier than was scheduled under the planned gradual easing of rules in phase two.
At restaurants, social distancing measures are being applied, with tables positioned at least two metres apart. Buffets are no longer allowed, which rules out many aperitivi.
All retailers are now allowed to open, and guards at department stores are using an app to count the number of customers in the store at any one time, while clothes tried on in changing rooms will be quarantined for 24 hours. Many stores are offering markdowns of up to 60% to clear unsold stocks.
At the country’s hair salons, the phone is ringing off the hook as services resume by ‘appointment only’.
“I already have 150 appointments, all very urgent, all of them insisting that they must be first on the list,” Stefania Ziggiotto, a hairdresser in the Alpine resort of Courmayeur, told Reuters. “I have a full agenda for three weeks.”
Museums, libraries, exhibitions and archaeological sites have also come back to life, although many are staggering their openings over the coming weeks.
Churches have flung open their doors for public mass and other ceremonies including weddings and funerals, although worshippers must comply with distance rules and wear face masks.
The Covid toll
Almost 32,000 Italians have died of Covid-19, the third-highest death toll in the world after the United States and Britain.
Premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged that reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but added “we must accept it”.
He said the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought “the expected results”, putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening.
“We’re facing a calculated risk in the knowledge that the contagion curve may rise again,” said Mr Conte. “We have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again.”
He added that an extensive monitoring system is in place and the government will intervene to close areas if there are new outbreaks.
What comes next?
The next restrictions to be lifted will be on gyms and swimming pools, which are set to reopen from 25th May.
From 3rd June, travel will be allowed freely between regions in Italy, and visitors will be able to cross the border without having to provide documentation or submit to a two-week quarantine.
On 15th June, theatres and cinemas will be allowed to reopen with social distancing measures in place.
Of course, all of this could be reversed if the health situation deteriorates.
 
 

Marquet Beach beach reopens

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/05/2020

Marquet Beach in Cap d’Ail has been authorised to reopen and welcome swimmers, though Mala remains closed due to security enforcement concerns.

When the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes signed the decree on Friday of last week to reopen several of the region’s beaches, swimmers and beach lovers rejoiced. In Cap d’Ail, Marquet Beach was opened on Monday, albeit with strings attached.

“Access to the sea is only authorised for swimming from 8am to 5pm,” word from the village says, while time in the water is limited to one hour in a dedicated swimming area. Unlike in some other towns, strolls along the beach are not possible, nor is sunbathing. Picnics are also forbidden for the time being.

“It is not the beach which is open, but an access to the sea,” Xavier Beck, mayor of Cap-d’Ail, reminds the public. “We did not authorise walks on the beach because there is the sentier des Douaniers is right next to it.”

Swimmers will be given access through a corridor with clearly marked entry and exit points. No more than 10 people will be allowed on the path at one time for safety. Additionally, the prefecture has offered a way to rinse off after a dip that complies with health regulations. “A shower is located at the exit and will be disinfected after each use of the push button,” they have revealed. 

Mala Beach is currently still closed due to a laundry list of understandable, though disappointing, reasons.

“This decision was taken mainly for security and surveillance reasons. We have a municipal responsibility,” says Mayor Beck. “First, access to aid is much easier in Marquet than in La Mala. It’s a question of manpower, we absolutely must have a qualified lifeguard on site. The four, who will be available from Monday, will be able to provide surveillance seven days a week from 8am to 5pm on Marquet beach. 

Those who violate the rules face a 4th class fine, which equates to €135. If the offender tries again less than 15 days later, the fine goes to a 5th class offence costing €1,500. In the event of a third violation within 30 days, the person would be subject to a fine of €3,750, the risk of jail time and community service.

Menton has also reopened some beaches from 9am to 7pm daily. Les Sablettes is open to swimmers only, whilst the beaches from Fossan to Borrigo will cater to walkers and runners. People may also practice non-motorised sea sports, such as paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking here. Gorbio Beach will remain closed for now.

As is the case in Cap d’Ail, no one is allowed to plant themselves on the sand and relax. Perpetual motion is key here. Until things settle down further, people can comfort themselves knowing that at least a bit of toes in the sand is better than none.

 
 

MEB reorganises for maximum efficiency

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/05/2020

Earlier this year, the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) surveyed members to ask what the group could do to improve. The results are now in and have led to the MEB’s reorganisation, including new and existing positions. 

Lockdown was a time of reflection for many. The Monaco Economic Board was no exception. Using a member survey launched in January and February of this year, they were able to use confinement as a time to rethink how the organisation works and how to improve.

This has led to a number of changes within the teams, notably in the Monaco Chamber of Commerce and in Monaco Invest, which has now been repositioned as Invest Monaco.

All development dedicated to the companies of the Principality and those looking to invest in them will now fall under a single operational team led by Virginie Gianangeli. Former head of Monaco Invest, Justin Highman, will take on the number two role as Deputy General Manager. 

The Monaco Coordination mission is managed by Fanny Contrault, the Executive Assistant to MEB’s Chief Executive Officer, Guillaume Rose. She will continue carrying out international outreach actions, an essential component for development and promotion abroad.

Diego Bonaventura, Director of the Monaco Chamber of Commerce, will be leaving this position for the Interministerial Delegation in charge of the Digital Transition. As part of Frédéric Genta’s team, Bonaventura will be closely working with the MEB on new collaborations.

Guillaume Rose, who will be interviewed this week by Monaco Life, has stated he is, “More motivated than ever to support and participate in the economic success of the Principality,” adding, “the Monaco Economic Board will meet its members and partners for new virtual or non-virtual actions, as soon as possible.”

 
Photo: Justin Highman. Invest Monaco, Monaco Economic Board. Photo: David Dyson/Investor Media
 
 

UK backtracks on French quarantine exemption

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/05/2020

In another blundering move, Downing Street has issued an abrupt about-face after stating there would be no 14-day quarantine required for French nationals upon entering the UK this summer.
Hopes of easy breezy summer holidays between the UK and France have been scuppered by an announcement from Number 10 that they did not mean that travel to and from France would be excluded from any general quarantine agreements, only that the two countries were in talks. This comes in the face of criticism from those wondering why one country should be excluded from the rules.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said that, “There is no French exemption. What the statement at the weekend said was no quarantine measures apply to France at this stage. We will be working with the French in the coming weeks because cooperation is particularly necessary for the management of our common border and any steps we do take will be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner”.
This news comes as a huge disappointment from lockdown weary citizens who saw this exemption as a glimmer of hope for semi-normal summer travel.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, has voiced concerns over the lack of a clear cut policy. “People will want a clear sense of grip and competence from the government’s handling of this crisis .   Ministers need to be open about the evidence their decisions are based on, and give consistent, clear messages on quarantining decisions both generally and in relation to particular countries.”
It is likely that quarantine measures would not apply, on either side of the Channel, to truck drivers delivering food, medicine and other essentials, though no final decisions have been made.
 
Read more:

‘There will be a European summer’

 
Photo: Eurostar, Pixabay