The government has begun phase three of its free Covid screening campaign at the Espace Léo Ferré, welcoming all those who missed out during the first two rounds of testing.
The new Tuesday screenings kicked off this week under the watchful eye of Health Minister Didier Gamerdinger and Health Department General Secretary Ludmilla Raconnat Le Goff.
Residents of Monaco, school students and employees who missed out on the opportunity to be tested during the first month of the campaign are welcome to visit the Espace Léo Ferré every Tuesday for the next month, from 8am to 6pm. The wearing of a mask is obligatory.
Future testing will be available on 30th June, 7th July and 14th July.
Meanwhile, Monaco recorded its second consecutive positive case of Covid-19 on Monday 22nd June, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Principality to 101. Tennis star and Monaco resident Grigor Dimitrov tested positive on Sunday and is under the care of the Home Patient Monitoring Centre.
The government confirmed on Monday that all other patients are fully recovered and that no one is currently being treated in hospital.
The latest statistics show that the overall economic performance across Monaco was down significantly in the first quarter of this year as the Principality grappled with the effects of the Covid-19 crisis. The only sectors to buck the trend were finance, real estate and construction.
IMSEE, the company used by the government to track statistics in the Principality, has released its trimestral report on the economy and this edition holds few big surprises.
Due to the Covid epidemic, the entire globe has faced not only a health crisis but also an economic one. Even Monaco has suffered some setbacks in this first trimester, with only the finance and real estate/construction sectors holding their own in these extraordinary times.
The writing was on the wall as far back as February, though things accelerated with the lockdown that began on 16th March. When the crisis struck, it should be noted that the economy had been humming along at quite a good clip for the two previous years. It should also be noted that the statistics presented by IMSEE are comparisons for the same trimester in 2019, and not every indicator was downturned, though most were.
Foreign trade considers all trade done with every country except for France. The figures are what one would expect, with a massive 50.8% drop in the volume of imports and a 40.9% decrease in exports. Turnover was less disappointing, with a tiny 2.6% fall, but the hit to this aspect will become clear in the second trimester, when lockdown was in full swing.
The biggest downturns were seen in accommodation and food service, transportation and industry. Real estate and construction grew in this time period, though with modest gains. Meanwhile, resales during this time frame were up 13.5% over 2019, despite sales of new flats being down by two-thirds.
The banking sector made it relatively unscathed as well in the first quarter. Deposits were up by 5.4% and the number of loans wass also up by 8.2%. There was a small dip in assets over the past year, -1.3%, but that is not a huge concern, according to IMSEE.
Ending 31st March 2020, the number of private sector jobs in Monaco numbered 53,454, a 3% decrease on the year before. Hotels and restaurants were the most affected with a 10% drop in employees. Total working hours fell by 5%, though those who telecommuted or were on CTTR during this period are not taken into account.
This could have been much more severe, but the government acted quickly at the start of the crisis and passed a law disallowing employers to perform “unfair dismissals” whilst the epidemic had the world at a standstill.
Company creation was down as well, with -31.3% new businesses created compared to last year. There were 123 definitive closures this trimester as opposed to 148 in 2019, but the balance is still positive with 37 more openings than closures.
People were buying fewer cars, and the number of new car registrations was down by 11.7%. Equally, public parking facilities were used less, showing a 13.4% drop in usage.
Just a few weeks ago, a weekend trip in St Tropez felt so far away. I was dreaming about tanning on the beach, enjoying a nice lunch at the beach club with a glass of rosé, and dressing up for dinner at one of the glamorous restaurants in town.
We were all on lockdown at home, and I am sure I was not the only one realising how often I underrated these moments in life and promised myself that from now on, I will be more grateful!
Summer arrived, and here I am again, sitting on the terrace of the historical café Le Sénéquier, eating the traditional Tarte Tropézienne and drinking a Café Granité. I could sit here for hours watching people and enjoying the view over the port and the yachts. I escaped to St Tropez for the weekend, curious to see how restaurants and boutiques are coping in trying to keep clients and staff safe, preventing the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. Plage de l’Escalet, Ramatuelle
Summer holidays will be different for most this year, meaning that many of us will plan our trips differently. As a real estate professional, I have seen a high demand in rentals of big villas and a high percentage of these clients are Monegasque residents. Many families might opt for quality time spent in a prestige villa, with a swimming pool and surrounded by nature, rather than sleeping in hotels or flying abroad to one of the Greek or Spanish islands. My favorite transportation to get around St Tropez, respecting the environment – E.MOKE, the electric Mini Moke
I personally have a positive feeling for this summer season in St Tropez, that will attract high-end tourism and European families
Hotels were still closed when I was visiting but opening again by the end of June. Byblos for example, is officially opening on June 18th.
All boutiques were open but at the entrance of each store, a mask and gel were available and obligatory. While strolling around I paid a visit to the Parisian brand L.D.B.. I like this brand because they use organic garments such as soy fibre and yarn from eucalyptus wood. The apparel is comfortable and the price is very accessible. I actually bought myself a boho-chic outfit, very Tropezienne style! L.D.B. design by… 70 rue Gambetta
I must admit, I was positively impressed by the improvements made in the restaurants and the efforts of owners, considering the difficulties they have been through due to Covid-19. In all the restaurants I dined, the menus had changed and the quality had improved significantly, and I was happy to feel the positive vibes around. Waiters in restaurants were all wearing masks but guests were not obliged to wear one.
Menus are mostly digital, to be read directly from the phone.
The beach clubs in St Tropez here are my favourite part of the day. The legendary Club 55 and the trendy Verde Beach are on my top list favourites. Verde beach by Yeels, 1149 Route de l’Épi, Ramatuelle Verde beach by Yeels Club 55, 43 Boulevard Patch, Ramatuelle
On 11th June, The Strand opened their doors, welcomed by the legend DJ Jack.E. This restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in town, originally called Palmyre. Isabella with DJ Jack.E at The Strand
DJ Jack.E – resident DJ of Les Caves du Roy and part owner of The Strand – told me the secret behind the romantic and mysterious atmosphere of the place: back in the days it was a so-called “bordel” …!
My review: delicious meat, warm and romantic atmosphere. The Strand Salama, 1 Chemin des Conquettes Dessert at The Strand
Tennis star at centre of tournament Covid outbreak
Monaco’s 100th case of Covid-19 is tennis star Grigor Dimitrov, who had just returned from an exhibition tournament in Croatia after feeling unwell. Two coaches and another tennis player have since tested positive, sending shockwaves throughout the tennis world.
Around the same time that the Monaco government revealed on Sunday that it had recorded it’s 100th case of Covid-19, the Bulgarian tennis ace Grigor Dimitrov took to Instagram to announce that he had tested positive for virus in Monaco. It was a chilling announcement, considering Dimitrov had been playing in the Adria Tour, an exhibition event organised by Novak Djokovic and his team.
The world number 19 had played in the Serbian and Croatian legs of the exhibition tournament and lost in straight sets to Borna Coric in Zadar on Saturday before returning home after feeling unwell.
In the wake of Dimitrov’s post, the organisers of the tour quickly took to Instagram to confirm the tennis player had returned a positive test in Monaco and announced the cancellation of the Grand Final scheduled for the coming hours, adding: “None of the people involved in the organisation and who have been in contact with Grigor have any symptoms.”
However, the fallout came swiftly and it was revealed just hours later that of the 22 people who had close contact with the tennis player and were tested, three had returned positive results – Borna Coric, the world No 33 from Croatia, Dimitrov’s coach Christian Groh and Djokovic’s fitness trainer Marko Paniki.
Djokovic and Dimitrov have reportedly been in extremely close contact in recent weeks, playing football and basketball matches together, hanging out and partying at a nightclub. Which is why many have questioned why Djokovic didn’t test himself for the virus before leaving Zadar. Apparently, he didn’t think it was necessary, with the tournament organisers releasing this statement:
“Novak did not feel any symptoms or anyone from his environment, including the professional staff, so he did not go for testing now. After arriving home in Belgrade, he will contact the epidemiologist, and he will continue the procedure to his doctor according to the recommendations of the medical service.”
Over 1,000 people have been tested since the news about Dimitrov’s health conditions broke. The 29-year-old is now being treated under the Home Patient Monitoring Centre in Monaco. UPDATE: On Tuesday 23rd June it was revealed that World number one Novak Djokovic and his wife had tested positive for Covid-19. Tennis player Viktor Troicki had also returned a positive test. Photo: Dimitrov playing at the 2019 US Open
Princess' Foundation raises money for Covid vaccine
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and the 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans have raised €21,500 to support medical research in the fight against Covid-19 and efforts to make a vaccination accessible to all.
On Saturday 13th June, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were joined by their children Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the Automobile Club of Monaco to cheer on the #54 StrongTogether team, representing the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
“These 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans have proven the successful combination of competition, passion and generosity,” said Princess Charlene. “My Foundation, with the StrongTogether car driven by Francesco Castellacci, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella and Tony Mella for this unprecedented race, is committed to supporting medical research in the fight against Covid-19. We were also able to count on your mobilisation, your generosity, you the spectators, partners, organisers. Thank you all, with a special mention of course for the crew of the Strong Together car, which finished 8th in its category.”
Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, added: “The spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans can only radiate through relays – relays taken by drivers, relays between engineers and mechanics, relays between new technologies and the future of the automobile … Sharing and exchanging are the values of our discipline. This 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans could not take place with a different philosophy and this call for donations during 24 Hours, initiated by Princess Charlene of Monaco, was obvious of the bond which links Le Mans and Monaco, in the history of motorsport. I sincerely thank all the donors.”
All of the €21,500 raised will be donated to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance – an international organisation created in 2000 which provides universal access to vaccination without discrimination.
These funds will complement the contribution made by the Principality of Monaco as part of the ‘Coronavirus Global Response’ initiative by the Commission European of which Prince Albert II took part on 4th May.
The September calendar is filling up with two more big events heading this way – the Asian-inspired ‘Made in Japan’ at the Grimaldi Forum and a concert by former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett.
Made in Japan, an exciting exhibition highlighting Japanese and Asian traditions, will take place from Friday 11th September to Sunday 13th September in the Espace Indigo at the Grimaldi Forum.
Guests can enjoy culinary delights from the East and take part in workshops and demonstrations where Asian and Japanese customs and traditions will be highlighted. Doors are open from 10am to 6pm. For tickets and info, go to www.grimaldi forum.com
Progressive rock pioneer and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett will be coming to the Principality on 18th September to the Opera Garnier for a one-night only appearance.
His new tour, based on a live album recorded during a 1977 concert at the Palais des Sports in Paris, called Genesis, Seconds Out, will be the focus of his concert, though he is sure to bring his hits and favourites alive as well. Doors for the concert open at 8pm and the show starts at 8.30pm. To request tickets, email ticketoffice@sbm.mc
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