A child from the Petite Section of Stella School in Monaco has tested positive for Covid, forcing a precautionary suspension of the class until the end of the week.
PCR testing is not carried out on young students in Monaco, nor is mask wearing obligatory at school, so the Prince’s government made the decision to close the kindergarten class effective Tuesday 19th January until Sunday 24th January.
The government said in a statement on Monday that the child had contracted the virus in an intra-family setting.
The parents of pupils were contacted immediately by the school’s administration to make them aware of the situation. The case is not prohibiting other classes from carrying on as normal, as the contamination has not been shown in any other classroom.
Teachers and school staff who were in contact with the affected child are being given PCR tests, in accordance with the health protocols in place.
The total number of cases in Monaco since the start of the pandemic sits at 1,212. There are currently 30 patients, 19 of which are residents, being treated at Princess Grace Hospital at the moment, including 10 in intensive care, of which three are residents.
The Automobile Club of Monaco says it has no intention of postponing or cancelling this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, dismissing speculation the event could be scrapped again because of Covid-19.
Construction of the world-famous street circuit is set to begin next month, in time for three major motor sports events that are scheduled to take place in Spring.
But after Formula One confirmed the season opener in Australia will be postponed to November, rumours circulated that officials were reluctant to start work on Monaco’s circuit.
Organisers on Monday denied those suggestions.
“Despite the latest rumours circulating on certain websites and social media, the Automobile Club of Monaco can confirm that the 78th Formula One Monaco Grand Prix will take place from May 20th to 23rd, 2021,” it said on its Facebook page. “The ACM also confirms the 12th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique (April 23rd-25th 2021) and the 4th Monaco E-Prix (May 8th 2021).”
Formula One also dismissed as ‘completely wrong’ speculation at the weekend that races at street circuits were set to be cancelled this season.
“We have set out the details of the revised 2021 calendar and there are no other changes,” a spokesman said.
Formula One’s 2020 season was postponed and then reduced to 17 races, mostly behind closed doors and with street races such as Monaco, Azerbaijan and Singapore cancelled.
The 2021 revised calendar consists of 23 events, subject to approvals by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, local governments and Formula One Group.
National Council President Stéphane Valeri is calling on all residents and workers in Monaco to be vaccinated against Covid as soon as possible, to put a “definitive end to this terrible pandemic and its disastrous health and economic consequences.”
Mr Valeri made the plea during the traditional new year greeting to the press on Monday 18th January. He started by wishing everyone present “a better year than 2020”.
“This year has been particularly difficult and marked by a historic global crisis which has not spared the Principality. With 2021, of course not everything will fade away like with a wave of a magic wand. As we can see, the situation remains complicated but the prospects for an end to the crisis in the coming months seem to be clearer, in particular with the mass vaccination of populations.”
Mr Valeri highlighted the important role that the National Council has played throughout the crisis, both within the framework of the Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee and in the legislative work of the Assembly.
“After 24 meetings of the Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee, set up at the end of March by the Sovereign Prince, the last of which was held on Friday, I dare say that our country is doing much better than many others,” he told the press. “We have been an institutional resource to help the Government bring its decisions closer to the immediate needs of the people of our country. This was the case for the masks, for the testing policy, and it is now the case for the deployment of vaccines.”
Mr Valeri also pointed to the National Council’s role in securing financial support for employees and business owners in the Principality, and the vital role that the media has played in relaying clear and regular information to the population during the pandemic. Photo: National Council of Monaco
But he called on the government to introduce a more effective model of communication, which includes important figures that impact decisions made in the Principality, namely the number of occupied Covid ICU beds compared to the total capacity, the incidence rate, the rate of spread of the virus, and the evolution of the number of people vaccinated.
Stéphane Valeri said that he would like to see the timely vaccination of all Monegasques and residents who wish to receive the jab, followed by all employees who travel to the Principality.
“It is therefore a question of being able to meet the needs of a potential total population of around 80,000 people to be vaccinated as soon as possible. I say potential, because obviously vaccination should only be done on a voluntary basis,” said the National Council president. “However, I call on each and every one to be vaccinated, when the moment comes for their priority group, not only to protect themselves but also to protect others and achieve collective immunity as soon as possible. This is the only way to put a definitive end to this terrible pandemic and its disastrous health and economic consequences.”
The council has asked the government to increase Monaco’s vaccination capacities and to reduce delays to a minimum.
With regards to the economy, Mr Valeri said: “We are pleased to keep the CTTR (temporary unemployment) as long as necessary, in order to safeguard as many jobs as possible.”
He acknowledged that the prolonged consequences of the pandemic continue to worsen the situation for a large number of companies, particularly those in the tourism and events sectors. As a result, the National Council is proposing that the government boost the capacity of CARE to help more structures and in greater proportions, to postpone the repayment of loans guaranteed by the State (PGE) until 2022, and to reveal each month the investments of various stimulus funds.
Finally, Mr Valeri said the Assembly will be looking at a number of legislative texts in 2021, including gaining Monegasque nationality by marriage.
“We will also vote, by amending, the bill recognising the country’s children,” concluded Mr Valeri, before wishing the press health, happiness and success for the new year.
Top photo: Stéphane Valeri and councillors, by the National Council of Monaco
In his traditional new year meeting with the press, Monaco’s Mayor Georges Marsan has revealed that the new digital Monegasque Identity Card will be rolled out in the next few months.
Mayor Georges Marsan, along with First Assistant and Mediathèque Delegate, Camille Svara and Nicolas Croesi, Assistant in Charge of the Digital Transition, held a press conference on Friday 15th January to discuss three major projects happening this year in the Principality, as well as to give an update on the progress of digital transition plans.
The first project involves the Rainier III Academy, which was forced to close in September due to technical problems in the building. Classes have continued in makeshift classrooms all over Monaco and have allowed the musical education they provide to continue.
The Town Hall Secretary General and a new management team under the leadership of Jade Sapolin have been making the necessary repairs. The project is enormous, with all the walls in the building being taken down to refit the structure and create new classrooms. Works are on target for a reopening for the start of the 2021-2022 school year in September.
The second project is the Jardin Exotique. This is an ongoing scheme that had been started during the first confinement period when perilously hanging rocks were secured. Upon further inspection of the site, more structural issues cropped up that needed attention and so these works will continue until the end of 2021. The gardens will be closed during this period.
The third major project concerns the Villa Lamartine. The plan is to renovate the building to become an “Intergenerational living house”. The work has obtained the BD2M eco-responsible renovation label and will be done to the strictest standards.
The José Notari Sonothèque and the Videothèque will temporarily be housed at the Louis Notari library on Rue Princess Antoinette.
The mayor then moved onto the digital transition announcing, “In the next few months, the new Monegasque Identity Card will be rolled out, which will allow each Monegasque, if they wish, to have a secure digital identity which in the short term will greatly facilitate administrative procedures.”
Additionally, large screens are continuing to be installed all over the Principality. There are two large format versions, one at Stade Louis II and another at the Canton Roundabout, and seven more 75-inch panels that have been installed between 2018 and 2020 around town. This year, the goal is to add three more screens at Monaco’s entry points and another at Larvotto once the area’s rehabilitation is completed.
Culture is also getting a boost from digitalisation. The School of Fine Arts will organise its virtual open days from Saturday 13th February. The Academy is also adapting and will record a Jazz and Current Music concert on 28th and 29th January that will be broadcast on YouTube and other social media outlets.
The Media Library also remains very active by organising conferences and film clubs with a limited number of participants, by reservation and at times arranged to comply with the curfew in force.
Hopes are high that by summer, live events and exhibitions will once again be allowed, but as of right now, the Town Hall is reluctant to make or reveal concrete plans.
The mayor signed off on a cheerful note saying, “The year will be rich in projects despite the continuing health crisis which requires a lot of adaptation. We remain optimistic and motivated and our Town Hall is always active, it is modernised every day and continues to listen to everyone’s needs and wishes.”
The 89th Monte-Carlo Rally is underway amid tough restrictions – no spectators, strict adherence to France’s 6pm curfew, and blanket Covid testing for all involved.
Martine Clavel, Prefect of the Hautes-Alpes, on Thursday issued an order authorising the 89th edition of the Monte-Carlo Rally in the department from 18th to 24th January, following similar decisions taken by the prefectures of the other departments crossed – Alpes de Haute-Provence, Drôme, Isère and Alpes-Maritimes, as well as the favorable opinion of the Departmental Road Safety Commissions.
“It’s excellent work that has been carried out with the Automobile Club de Monaco. The professionalism of this organiser allows the first round of the WRC world championship to take place in conditions of health safety which are essential for everyone,” said Martine Clavel.
Monaco’s Espace Léo Ferré screening centre was opened uniquely on Sunday for the marshals and members of the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM). More than 500 PCR tests were carried out in order for the 89th Monte-Carlo Rally to take place. Photo by the Automobile Club of Monaco
Another condition that had to be met is that fans would not be able to watch this year’s event from the sidelines. Hundreds of race marshals and police will be deployed along the route to ensure there are no groupings of people.
“In order to fight the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the Organising Committee of the 89th Monte-Carlo Rally – in agreement with the FIA, the Promoter of the World Rally Championship (WRC) and all the local authorities involved – has decided to allow no spectators whatsoever on and around the event. It will be organised behind closed doors, as was the case in Turkey and Sardinia at the end of the previous season,” said the ACM in a statement.
Meanwhile, the event schedule has been reorganised to respect the 6pm curfew in force.
The Automobile Club of Monaco has announced that the special stages can be followed live on www.amc.mc, on the WRC+ app and on official social networks. The national (Canal + and Radio France) and local (Dauphiné, Alpes 1 and D! Ci TV) media are also partners of the event.
The 89th Monte-Carlo Rally will kick off from Gap on Thursday 21st January at 1:10pm.
Top photo by World Champion Rally Driver Ott Tänak during his second day of pre-event testing in Gap.
The Red and Whites have gone three for three, starting the second half of the Ligue 1 season with a three-two win against Montpellier on the opponent’s home turf.
AS Monaco went toe to toe with Montpellier Herault Sport Club on Friday night and they did not disappoint.
Coach Niko Kovac shook up the starting line up with Ruben Aguilar at right wing and Djibril Sidibé at right back, but the changes certainly didn’t upset the apple cart and the team were playing well.
No attempts on goal were made for nearly a quarter of an hour, and it was Montpellier’s Andy Delort who made the try. He was unsuccessful, but this lit a fire under Monaco. It was Kevin Volland who scored the opening goal at 24 minutes into play with a beautiful low shot that snuck past goalkeeper Jonas Omlin, giving the German his 10th goal of the season.
Not to be outdone, Wissam Ben Yedder took up the gauntlet and at 35 minutes he doubled the score for the Red and Whites. Monaco headed into halftime with a comfortable lead.
After the break, the pressure was on and Montpellier made an error that cost them another point. A penalty made by Daniel Congré on Volland turned into another Ben Yedder goal, his ninth this season and 90th in the French top flight league.
This is when things got interesting. Montpellier seemed to wake up and in a matter of a few minutes had come within one point of the Red and Whites. Elye Wahi scored in the 64th minute followed five minutes later by Andy Delort. Despite these efforts, Monaco held the opponents off and finished with a three to two win, putting them firmly in fourth place in the Ligue 1 standings.
“It may have been one of our best away performances this season,” said Coach Niko Kovac. “We had the opportunity to score a fourth goal but it did not turn to our advantage. We showed solidity in the face of our opponent’s aggression tonight. In Ligue 1, the matches are never finished until the final whistle. I hope that this match will allow my players to continue to develop, they hung on and earned this result.”
AS Monaco’s next match will be on Saturday at 9pm at home against Marseille.
Written by Stephanie Horsman with ASM press release. Photo by AS Monaco
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