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Month: May 2020

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.

 
 

Mass Covid testing set to begin

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/05/2020

Free Covid-19 blood tests will be rolled out for the entire population on a voluntary basis from Monday, with the aim of testing 90,000 residents and employees. 
From 18th May, the government will start blanket testing the population, with 50,000 free tests currently available for residents and employees of the Principality and more than 100,000 additional tests on their way.
The test will be voluntary and conducted at two centres, the Grimaldi Forum and Espace Léo Ferré. Directives will be sent in the post next week and will be regulated in alphabetical order for residents aged five and over.
The so-called TROD serological test consists of a prick on the fingertip, the collection of a drop of blood and its analysis. The result takes just 10 minutes.
If the result is negative, it indicates that the person has not been in contact with the virus. If it is positive, the person will be asked to take a blood test in a laboratory (covered by  the State), to determine more precisely this person’s viral load and when they came across the virus. If this period is less than seven days – the active contamination time – a PCR test will determine if the person is infected with the virus and whether they will need to self-quarantine for 14 days.
After the population screening, tests will be organised for employees within companies that give their consent and on dedicated sites.
Infants and children under the age of five will be screened at a later date, in the presence of a paediatrician.
The test rollout was announced during the 8th meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee which was held on Thursday, where it was also revealed that lockdown measures have been successful in containing the coronavirus. “To date, more than 700 targeted people who have been exposed have been tested in order to start an epidemiological survey of the Principality,” states a press release. “It turns out that less than 2% have been in contact with the virus. These first figures, which need to be refined, are encouraging. They show that confinement in the Principality has considerably slowed the spread of the virus in Monaco.”
Business impact
The government noted that since the lockdown was lifted on 4th May, overall consumer attendance is considerably lower in May compared to previous years, given the cancellation of events, cruise ships and the closure of restaurants and cafés.
“According to initial estimates, there is an estimated 60% drop in attendance. This drop is slightly less, for the moment, in stores selling clothing, technology, household appliances, telephones, toys and home care such as hairdressing.”
State aid
Beneficiaries of the Extraordinary Minimum Income and Aid to Companies will continue to receive support for the month of May, without having to request it, despite the fact many have resumed activity.
“However, any new request received after 15th May will not be accepted. The Joint Monitoring Committee now wishes to focus on the sectors of activity particularly affected by the crisis, or still subject to administrative closure measures, and which will therefore be the subject of targeted support measures,” said the committee.
Travel
With regard to public transport, the SNCF recorded an increase of 1,300 passengers compared to the week of 4th May and figures show the number of commuters is increasing day by day.
Commercial rents
Finally, despite pressure from the National Council, the government said it would not make it mandatory for landlords in control of leases of commercial, industrial or artisanal sites to apply discounts or aid measures for tenants. “The Princely Government, anxious to guarantee legal stability, will privilege concertation and analysis of the situation on a case by case basis.”
The next Joint Monitoring Committee meeting will be held on 28th May.
 
Photo: © Direction de la Communication / Michael Alesi
 
 

Two weeks until cafés, restaurants reopen in Riviera  

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/05/2020

France will reopen bars and restaurants in the country’s “green zones”, including the French Riviera, on Tuesday 2nd June, provided the health situation doesn’t deteriorate.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced the French government’s long-awaited tourism support plan on Thursday, confirming that the hospitality sector could resume in two weeks. However, the green light will not officially be given until the week of 25th May.
After announcing a massive €18 billion plan to support tourism, Edouard Philippe addressed the central question of the reopening of establishments forced to close their doors in March due to the coronavirus epidemic. “We must all focus together on the reopening of the sector,” he said, “in the best possible conditions.”
“Whatever strikes tourism obviously strikes at the heart of France,” said the French PM.
For cafés, bars and restaurants located in green zones, “a reopening on 2nd June may be considered if the evolution of the epidemic does not deteriorate and provided that the health measures recommended by the High Council of Public Health are fully respected,” announced the minister.
In the meantime, “our capacity to contain the epidemic must be demonstrated until 2nd June and the restaurateurs must prepare to apply the sanitary protocols,” concluded Edouard Philippe.
Holidaying in July and August
The French government announced that its citizens will be able to go on vacation in July and August – an important reassurance for the French Riviera which relies heavily on domestic tourism during the summer period.
To encourage people to return to restaurants when they reopen, the daily ceiling for tickets-restaurants will be doubled from €19 to €38, and their use will be authorised on weekends and public holidays, until the end of 2020. A ‘ticket resto’ serves as a food and beverage voucher, which is subsidised by employers.
For professionals in the tourism sector, ‘partial unemployment’ will be maintained until September 2020. Employers’ social security contributions between March and June will be exempt and will continue to be exempt as long as the sector remains closed.
Access to the solidarity fund for companies in the hospitality, tourism, events, sports and culture sectors will also be extended until the end of September.
But according to the Trades and Hotel Industries Union (UMIH) of the French Riviera, this will not be enough to ensure the survival of many in the hospitality industry. Vice President Christophe Souques told Monaco Life that restaurants, bars and cafés are set to make between 30% to 40% of their normal annual turnover this year because of the crisis, and many will not be able to continue as a result.
“The problem is that, even when we open, we will only have around 45% of our normal clientele,” said Mr Souques. “Yes, we will have the possibility to reopen, but the target now is to calculate, with the taxes and charges that we will have to pay eventually, if it will be worth it.”
In Monaco, the government announced in late April that bars, restaurants and cafés would likely reopen in early June “if the health situation in the first two stages permit”.
The Principality has recorded just one new case of Covid-19 since the lockdown was lifted on 4th May. Gaming rooms, exhibition halls, theatres and cinemas, beaches and swimming pools, gyms and sporting institutions are also set to reopen, with priority given to those with outdoor activities.
 

Beaches reopening on “case by case” basis

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/05/2020

Beaches in Nice and Cannes will reopen from this weekend, and more are expected to follow throughout the Alpes-Maritimes region. 

As with everything in these confusing times, the re-openings come with a raft of rules and will not be available for general or unlimited usage.

Sunbathing will not be permitted, but the public will now be able to take a dip, go for a jog or enjoy a leisurely stroll, so long as social distancing regulations are adhered to. In effect, people can be on the beach so long as they keep moving and there will be surveillance measures in place to ensure they do so.

Local beaches of note that will open include those in Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Cagnes-sur Mer, and the Prefecture has said that 16 total dossiers have been received so far, so it is expected that many more will also be available.

Suggested hours for beach goers are from morning until 7pm. This is to discourage picnickers and those wishing to camp out and watch the sunset.

Concerns have been raised regarding the 100km rule, and that the beaches will attract more people than can safely be accommodated. For the time being, getting them open is a first step. If adjustments must be made, such as limiting beach access to residents only, authorities say that will come at a later stage. For now, the people of the South of France will be able to experience toes-in-the-sand (or rocks), albeit in a less relaxing way than before.

 
 

UV robot key to airport’s health and safety plan

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/05/2020

Nice Côte d’Azur airport has implemented new health and safety measures to protect passengers, with a super high-tech robot at the heart of the plan.

An automatic robot that emits ultraviolet light to eliminate viruses suspended in air or on surfaces has been deployed, and after successful tests on 28th April and 7th May, is now ready for wider use at airport facilities. The airport says that the robot can destroy nearly 100% of bacteria and viruses present.

The robot is a prerequisite for reopening all terminals and will optimise the effects of the usual disinfecting and cleaning operations already in place.

Trained agents, dressed in hospital-grade clothing, will be working alongside the robot together with regular cleaning staff. These agents will work with a special viricidal surface disinfectant for an added layer of passenger protection.  

Hand sanitising dispensers have been installed throughout the terminals, on walking routes, at self-service terminals and in toilets, which also now have air and surface purifiers. The system works using UV radiation that is safe for humans and deadly to viruses.

Indoor air filtration will be increased by 50% with the use of improved filter models, the same quality as those used in hospitals. These filters will be replaced twice as often as in previous times, and ventilation ducts will be cleaned three times as often. 

As for travellers, masks will be obligatory in the terminals and the usual social distancing rules will apply. Masks can be brought from home, but they are also available in the terminals.