9 ° C
Profile

Day: 7 January 2021

Cases hit record high

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/01/2021

Monaco recorded 40 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest count yet, putting the Principality above 1,000 total cases since the pandemic began.
The government revealed in it’s daily Covid count on Thursday that the number of coronavirus cases in Monaco had grown to 1,018 – 40 more than the previous day.
The number of people being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre is 26. That is made up of 18 patients in standard care, nine of whom are residents.
In addition, eight people including four residents are being treated in intensive care.
The increase coincides with 20 new recoveries, which now stands at 793.
Meanwhile, 149 people are being followed by the Home Monitoring Centre, which medically supports patients with mild symptoms who are in self-confinement.
Thursday marks a steady increase in the number of Covid cases in the Principality, which hit 30 on Tuesday and 31 on Wednesday.
There have been four Covid-related deaths in Monaco since the outbreak, the latest being a 92-year-old resident on 2nd January.
 
Photo source: Upsplash
 
Related stories:

92-year-old becomes 4th Covid victim

New restrictions amid coronavirus spike

 
 

Government launches Monaco Boost incubator

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/01/2021

Monaco’s entrepreneurial eco-system has received a major “boost” thanks to the opening of another government funded start-up incubator capable of supporting 108 businesses.  
Monaco Boost was officially launched on Wednesday 6th January by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Finance and Economy Minister Jean Castellini and President of the National Council Stephane Valeri.
Like its sister incubator MonacoTech created in 2017, Monaco Boost is able to provide office space to start-ups looking to get established and register as a company in the Principality.
“I welcome the implementation of this tool available to Monaco’s entrepreneurs who create and innovate, and which will be used to promote economic initiatives in the Principality,” said the minister of state.
Monaco Boost is located in zone F of Fontvieille and is 100% owned by the State, with Laurence Garino, head of the Monaco Welcome Office, taking on the position of administrator.

Photo by Michael Alesi – Government Communication Department

The 1,200 square metre business centre is made up of 32 closed office spaces, two co-working areas that include 16 shared offices and 12 “hot spots”, two meeting rooms, one multipurpose room, a cafeteria, a relaxation area and a terrace.
The whole space is capable of accommodating 108 companies.
The government has indicated that by the end of January 2021, a call for applications will be launched for individual offices, with a view to installing the first contractors in April 2021. The Allocation Commission will be chaired by the Minister of Finance and Economy Jean Castellini and include National Council representatives, the Administration des Domaines, the Directorate of Economic Expansion, and SAM Monaco Boost.
 
Photo by Michael Alesi – Government Communication Department
 
Related stories:

Interview: MonacoTech Director Lionel Galfré

 
 

Cannes Film Festival delay puts spotlight on Monaco GP

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/01/2021

Organisers of the Cannes Film Festival say it will still go ahead in 2021, however it is likely to be pushed back from its original May schedule. So, what does this signal for the Monaco Grand Prix, which is due to take place during the same period?
The world’s biggest film festival was originally scheduled to be held between 11th and 22nd May. Now, it “will certainly take place in 2021”, according to a festival spokeswoman, but it may have to be postponed to sometime between the end of June and the end of July.
Cannes’ organisers say they still need some time “to evaluate the situation at the start of the year” before making a decision.
The Cannes Film Festival serves as the “season opener” for the region, attracting a large number of elite visitors who often move swiftly on to Monaco to enjoy the Grand Prix and all of its associated celebrations.
The Monaco GP is scheduled for 23rd May – the same weekend that the final days of the Film Festival were due to take place.
So, the questions on everybody’s lips remain: will the Monaco Grand Prix go ahead as planned or will the Principality host the GP without an audience? Will the GP be pushed back to a date later in the year or cancelled altogether like the 2020 event?
Rumours have already been floating around that the season-opening Australian Grand Prix will be delayed due to the increasing number of Covid cases in the country. The discovery of a new coronavirus strain first uncovered in the UK is also making authorities reluctant to open up their borders.
If the Aussie grand prix cannot go ahead on 21st March as planned, it is likely to be postponed until later in the year. This would involve moving other events on the 2021 F1 calendar, which is the longest the sport has ever planned.
Tickets are already on sale for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled for 28th March and would become the season-opener if the Melbourne race is postponed.
“In 2020 we proved that we could return to racing safely and delivered what many thought was impossible in March,” said a Formula 1 spokesperson. “We have set out our 2021 calendar and look forward to the return of F1 in March this year.”
According to various reports, F1 teams have already been presented with an updated provisional calendar for the 2021 season.
While it was confirmed a few weeks ago that the Vietnam Grand Prix would not take place again in 2021, it seems unlikely now that the Chinese Grand Prix will go ahead this season also, although talks are still ongoing.
The Monaco Grand Prix is still 5th on this provisional schedule.
But it won’t just be the Grand Prix that Monaco is set to host this year. Fans are also looking forward to a racing trifecta, with the 12th Historic Grand Prix scheduled for 23rd April and the Formula E Prix on 8th May.
All dates are subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
It takes around six weeks to construct the circuit for the Monaco Grand Prix. Work was just beginning for the 2020 event when the FIA stepped in and cancelled the race. Pushing the race back to a later date is not considered an easy option in the Principality due to a full events calendar the entire year.
 
Photo compilation by Monaco Life
 
 

Monaco’s cable car project under review

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/01/2021

In an effort to lighten the traffic load in the Principality, the government is looking at several solutions. One of the most interesting is a cable car to connect different neighbourhoods in the Principality, although many questions still remain.

The Monegasque government is always looking for ways to improve conditions, and one thing that comes up regularly is the flow of traffic around the country.

One project being bandied about to help on this front involves a cable car system. During a National Council meeting in mid-December, the government gave an update on the project. 

The original idea was to run cable cars between the Exotic Garden, Fontvieille and the Rock. But now, they are rethinking the idea.

Despite the fact this three-stop system has been the most studied – and according to reports the only one that would be commercially profitable – it has also been suggested that they ditch the cable car stop on the Rock and create a bank of lifts to connect with the Condamine instead.

“One can very well imagine that the State would finance, in relation to public transport, a gondola which would go from Fontvieille to the Exotic Garden (and vice versa), without the part arriving on the Rock,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Equipment and Town Planning. “On the other hand, concerning the elevators which would arrive on the Rock, for the moment we are only at the beginning of these studies. They are not yet sufficiently advanced for me to be able to tell you about them specifically.”

The main reason behind the shift is that a cable car running to the Rock was not popular with locals, who argue that this very modern attraction is at odds with the historic nature of that part of the country.

“Why not make an investment by the State for the gondolas and an extension to the Rock by lifts,” asked National Council President, Stephane Valeri. “When we built the downhill tunnel, the State didn’t make any money. It is very clear that we have invested in the mobility of the Principality.”

He added that he was more comfortable with this new routing, as were the people. “In the opinion survey we conducted among residents, the gondola lift was moreover fairly well received from the Exotic Garden to Fontvieille, but rather poorly from Fontvieille to Monaco-Ville.”

A previous plan to connect the Condamine district with the Rock had been conceived in the 1990’s but never realised. The studies to decide on this route for future are currently in the works.

 
Photo illustration by Socri
 
 

ASM starts year with resounding victory

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/01/2021

AS Monaco began 2021 on a high note, positively pummelling FC Lorient five to two at the opponent’s home turf.
The win on Wednesday night puts Monaco in sixth place in the Ligue 1 standings, inching ever closer to the top five, and only one point away from Marseille.
The match was balanced all through the first half with the opening goal going to Monaco as Axel Disasi made his third goal of the season. The next goal came at 32 minutes in when Les Merlus’ Terem Moffi fired a shot just under the bar evening up the score.
The teams went into halftime 1-1.
The real game began after the break, and more specifically when Aleksandr Golovin came onto the field. Within seconds, the Russian wonder made a fantastic shot from just outside the box giving Monaco a one point advantage. This score coupled with the post-halftime entries of Sofiane Diop and Guillermo Maripan on the pitch energised the Red and Whites.
“I laughed about it in the locker room after the game,” said Coach Niko Kovac after the game. “I don’t know if I’ve ever made such good substitution choices in my coaching career. They all contributed to the success.
“We are very happy to have Aleksandr Golovin back with us again. He came on and scored on the first ball he touched. We are very happy with his return, I’m sure he will raise the level of the team.”
But this goal was just the start. There was serious resistance from the opponents. Just minutes after Golovin’s play, they struck back with an Andrew Gravillon goal from a free kick diverted from Vito Mannone.
Monaco, as if not to be outdone, stepped it up a pace. Kevin Volland was the catalyst, receiving a pass from Maripan that he handily converted to a score, making three goals in the space of five minutes. The game came alive.
But for the Red and Whites, it was far from over. In the 78th minute, Diop scored with the help of Golovin and Volland, giving him his fifth goal of the season. Finally, in the final minute, Maripan scored from a deflection by Aurelien Tchouameni, ending the match with an impressive 5-2 win.
Monaco will see if they can keep the momentum going as they return home to Stade Louis II for a Saturday night match against Angers SCO.
 
Photo source: AS Monaco
 
 

Covid delays French ski season…again

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/01/2021

The much-hoped for reopening of French ski resorts on 7th January has again been delayed due to escalating Covid-19 cases in the country.
The French government has decided to postpone the opening of ski resorts in France due to the worrying rise in new Covid cases and hospitalisations in the past weeks.
France saw 25,379 new cases on Wednesday, up from 20,489 the previous day, and 234 new patients admitted to intensive care, showing the containment of the virus is far from going in the right direction and causing alarm amongst officials. This sharp leap is feared to be a spike following the relaxation of rules over the Christmas period, one that will continue for weeks to come.
France has kept its resorts closed since the end of the last national lockdown in early December. People are allowed to travel to the resorts and take in the views and fresh air, but all lifts, restaurants and other infrastructure has been closed. This not only rules out most winter sports, but also gives few a reason to drive considerable distances for no facilities, food or toilets.
The ruling may appear harsh, but as ski resorts were a hotbed of virus spreading last season, the government has good cause for concern. A meeting will be held next week by the Defence Council to debate the issue once more.
“The government is well aware that the sector needs clarity and we are committed to providing this for the rest of the season as quickly as possible,” Secretary of State for tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne told AFP.
Bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, and cultural establishments are also all closed in France, so the ski industry workers are not alone. But this is a cold comfort to those who rely on the ski season for their bread and butter.
 
Photo source: Unsplash