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Day: 2 February 2021

Covid tightens its grip on Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
02/02/2021

Monaco’s Covid fatality rate continues its upward spiral, with the death of three elderly residents in 24 hours and 44 new cases.
The latest victims were aged 82, 90 and 92.
In revealing the deaths on Tuesday evening, Health Minister Pierre Dartout said that he “deplores the heavy toll”, adding, “On behalf of the Princely Government, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families and relatives of these people. We assure them of the full support of the Princely Government at these times of great sadness for the entire national community.”
It brings Monaco’s Covid fatality rate since the pandemic began to 17. Three deaths occurred in all of 2020, 10 fatalities took place in January, and four deaths have been recorded in the first two days of February.
As a result, Monaco’s fatality rate has risen slightly to 1.1%.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid cases has also jumped in the Principality. There were 44 new positives on Tuesday 2nd February, bringing the overall total to 1,543.
Currently, 62 people are being taken care of at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre: 52 patients including 34 residents are hospitalised. In addition, 10 people, including five residents, are being treated in intensive care.
There have been 12 more Covid recoveries bringing that total to 1,295, while 127 Covid-positive residents with mild symptoms are being cared for by the Home Monitoring Centre.
 
 

Watch the Prince take part in the first Ocean Decade event

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/02/2021

Prince Albert will be speaking on Wednesday at ‘A Brave New Ocean’, a high-level virtual event kickstarting the Decade of the Ocean. The aim: to rally countries behind the creation of a sustainable Blue Economy.
Decade of the Ocean will run from 2021 to 2030 has been organised by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and aims to highlight the immense challenges and opportunities the ocean provides.
According to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development website, the global initiative is looking to “deepen our scientific knowledge of the sea and create the ocean we want. Its ambition is to generate the knowledge we need to achieve a world where biodiversity flourishes, and the ocean plays a central role in the drive for sustainable, fair development of our planet as we tackle the realities of climate change.”
The first digital event, ‘A Brave New Ocean’, gathers together world leaders, UN agencies, philanthropists and marine scientists and will draw on the real-life experiences of sailors, including Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco skipper Boris Herrmann of the recently-completed Vendée Globe, who have gathered information on their ocean travels for scientists.
Videos, speeches – such as the one being given by the Sovereign Prince, and live panel discussions will punctuate the event, helping those involved to set out a game plan for the next decade to improve ocean health.
The first part of Wednesday’s event will celebrate those who are already doing extraordinary things to help the oceans, identifying “tangible ways a healthy, resilient ocean can contribute to a blue recovery in a post-Covid-19 world.” The second half will be dedicated to how more positive change can be brought about.
The event will be broadcast on 3rd February at 4:10pm on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rtriyb3KTig and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/oceandecade/posts/238628807981299 or  https://www.facebook.com/IocUnesco/posts/10164936803250473
 
 

Explained: new rules on travelling to France

by: Cassandra Tanti
02/02/2021

Monaco residents travelling beyond 30 kilometres from their home must now produce a negative PCR test if controlled by authorities in France. But the National Council is fighting the move, calling on the Monegasque government to have the Principality excluded from the restriction. 
Both the French government and Monegasque government began listing the 30-kilometre requirement on their websites on 1st February. It comes amid a range of new measures in France to stem the growing tide of coronavirus cases, including the closure of large shopping centres and sealing its borders to non-EU travellers.
But new travel restrictions have also been placed on people travelling within the European space, including those in the Principality of Monaco.
It means that a journey to the Valberg slopes or a trip to a second home in the Var comes with strict new requirements.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs states on its website that: “All travellers, irrespective of their means of transport (by air, sea or land), aged 11 years and over and who wish to enter France from a country in the European space (European Union, Andorra, the Holy See, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland) must present the results of a virology test (RT-PCR) taken within 72 hours prior to departure and that does not identify Covid-19 contamination.”
Previously, only those arriving by sea or air were required to show a negative PCR test. Now it is a blanket rule. To back this up, the Interior Minister of France, Gérald Darmanin, has told police to step up patrols at train stations and main road border crossings.
The Monaco government has also updated its travel information, stating: “Concretely, a resident of the Principality wishing to go beyond 30km from their home (for example to Auron or Valberg for the weekend) will have to present the negative result of a PCR test of less than 72 hours in the event of a control unless you have a compelling reason.”
Those who are traveling with a compelling reason, must complete the following form:
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Attestations-de-deplacement-couvre-feu
Hauliers, cross-border workers and residents living within a 30-kilometre radius of a border area are exempt from the PCR test obligation.
National Council calls for exemption
But on Tuesday evening, the National Council released a statement saying that it has been approached by many residents who are upset about the restriction, adding that it shares their disappointment.
“These provisions, which are not reciprocal for the French in the other direction, appear indeed incomprehensible, in view of the neighbourly relations between the two States, and the geographical integration of the Principality within the department of the Alpes-Maritimes,” the statement reads.
The National Council says it has written to Minister of State Pierre Dartout that he make a request with the French authorities that Monaco be excluded from the 30-kilometre rule.
Non-essential travel not recommended
Regardless, the Prince’s Government is recommending its citizens avoid all non-essential travel to regions with a high circulation of the virus. That involves any place where the incidence rate is 60 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Alpes Maritimes currently has an incidence rate of 450, double that of the national average.
 
Related stories: 

France closes borders to non-EU countries

 
Photo of the Route des Crêtes, Cassis, France by Jp Valery on Unsplash
 
 

CFM Indosuez renews ballet company backing

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/02/2021

Wealth management giant CFM Indosuez has extended its 20-plus year partnership with Ballets de Monte-Carlo by three more years.

Renewal of the two-decade sponsorship was marked by an intimate signing between the two entities on 1st February.

“More than 20 years of unfailing support, renewed once again, is unique and exceptional in the Principality of Monaco, especially in the context we are currently experiencing,” said Jean-Christophe Maillot, Choreographer-Director of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. “CFM Indosuez gives us the means to innovate with this superb tool at the service of the choreographic art that is Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Our relationship is based on deep mutual trust. This is what is most precious and that is why CFM Indosuez is our oldest official partner.”

The trust built up between the two, they say, is due to the common values they share, namely “the search for excellence innovation, surpassing oneself, teamwork and family spirit.”

The renewal also represents CFM Indosuez’s dedication to Monaco’s cultural activities.

“The internationally recognised quality of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is a source of pride for the Principality,” said Mathieu Ferragut, CEO of CFM Indosuez Wealth Management. “For CFM Indosuez, it is an honour and a pleasure to continue our accompaniment, which has lasted for more than 20 years. This renewal of partnership for three years is in perfect coherence with the ambition of the Indosuez Group to promote excellence, know-how and passion and thus to support talent. Together with the Monte-Carlo Ballet, we intend to write a common history for many more years to come.”

 
Monaco Life with press release, photo provided
 
 

Have you got your tickets?

by: Cassandra Tanti
02/02/2021

Borneo Wildlife Preservation (BWP) is holding a luncheon to raise awareness and funds for the protection of the endangered Borneo Pygmy Elephant on 11th February at the Fairmont Hotel.
It is fair to say that there is still plenty of space in everyone’s social calendars at the moment. So, why not join in a fun lunch for a good cause this February?
The charity lunch will be hosted by animal trainer and behaviourist, and Monaco Life contributor, Katerina Pirelli. It is being held in the private Salon Mistrau of the Fairmont Monte Carlo in partnership with Club Vivanova.
Bornean elephants are the smallest Asian elephant subspecies and are distinctly littler than their mainland cousins, standing at a full three feet smaller. Located in Indonesia and Malaysia, the Borneo Pygmy Elephant is also far ‘gentler’ than the Asian or African elephants, and has oversized ears, plump bellies, and long tails.
Sadly, there are now fewer than 1,500 left in the wild. The WWF cites the main reasons for the Pygmy Elephant’s population decline as habitat loss, habitat degradation and fragmentation, and rising human-elephant conflict. Tragically, in 2017, it was found that even these tiny remote elephants are also subject to poaching for their ivory tusks.
Thursday’s charity lunch will include presentations from BWP President and Founder Katerina Pirelli, as well as Christian Moore, film producer and founder of Global Environment Media.
Lunch will be followed by a charitable tombola with many prizes including a luxury half-day private yacht cruise, dinner for two at Rampoldi Monte Carlo, and private beach brunch for two at the Meridien Beach Plaza.
Due to the current restrictions, attendees must be Monaco residents, nationals, employees, hotel guests or have a professional attestation to show they are attending for legitimate business purposes (to be approved by Club Vivanova). Special Fairmont room rates are available on request.
Monaco Life is proud to be a sponsor of this important event.
To book tickets, visit: https://www.clubvivanova.com/events/11feb2021
 
Related stories:

Interview: Bob Lee, elephant manager

 
Photo by Bernard Dupont, Kinabatangan River, Sukau, Sabah, Malaysia
 
 

France’s ski lifts to stay closed

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/02/2021

In another blow to the French ski industry, it was announced on Monday that France’s ski lifts will remain closed in February, annulling all chances of recuperating some of their losses during the half-term break.
The 2020-2021 French ski season is officially a wash-out. The government announced to the industry on 1stFebruary that ski lifts were not to be reopened as thought on the 15th of this month, disappointing skiers and ski industry workers alike.
The Reuters news agency, quoting government sources, said “France’s ski lifts will very likely stay closed until the end of the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Prime Minister Jean Castex told resort operators that financial compensation would be made available to them, though how much was not specified.
The reasons behind extending the closures include fears over the new Covid variant and the fast-spreading nature of it. Ski resorts are thought to be where Europe’s first super-spreaders came from last season, and a repeat of this would be unwelcome, especially as hospitals are already grappling with higher admission rates.
“There is no question of prioritising economic issues over health issues,” said Prime Minister Castex on French television in late January.
“When the president announced the closure of winter sports stations, he had conditioned their reopening on a decrease in the spread of the virus, with less than 5,000 infections per day. However, we are not there at all,” he added.
The resorts are not entirely closed. They are still welcoming people who would like to enjoy the walks and mountain air, as well as those intrepid souls who are happy to hike up the slopes on their own steam to ski down. But no amenities are open.
The €12 billion industry has been devastated by the closures and is estimating losses this year in the vicinity of €5.8 billion with the advent of the latest restrictions.
 
Photo by Ruth Troughton on Unsplash