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Day: 18 March 2021

Month-long lockdown ordered for French Riviera

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/03/2021

The French government has announced that the Alpes-Maritimes will go into lockdown for the next four weeks, with only schools and essential shops to remain open.
In his address to the nation on Thursday night, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that a total of 16 departments will have their restrictions tightened, including Paris and the Alpes-Maritimes.
The lockdown will begin on Friday 19th March and is scheduled to last four weeks, taking in the Easter weekend and the school holidays.
It comes almost one year to the day when France entered its first lockdown, on 17th March 2020.
As with the previous lockdown in October, schools will however remain open as well as essential shops.
Certificates will be mandatory for people leaving their homes and travel will be restricted to within 10kms, increased from the current 5kms. There is no time limit this time around and the curfew will begin at 7pm, not 6pm.
“Making outdoor activities easier should not be the pretext for barbecues with friends, for gatherings in public spaces or in parks,” warned Jean Castex, adding that “strict instructions will be passed on to the prefects to prohibit the frequentation of certain public spaces.”
The definition of “essential” shops has been broadened to include book stores and music shops.
Working from home will be encouraged in all industries that allow it, while one day on a work premises is possible for “those who want it”.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that the country will resume using the AstraZeneca vaccine following the results of an investigation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which concluded the jab was “safe and effective”.
Prime Minister Jean Castex was due to visit Nice on Friday 19th March, however he cancelled the trip late Thursday.
 
Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash
 
 
 

Another two weeks of restrictions for Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/03/2021

All current restrictions in Monaco designed to control the spread of Covid-19, including the night curfew and restaurant limitations, will be extended until 2nd April.
The restrictions came into force on 11th January, were extended on 17th February, and were due to expire on 19th March.
This time, the government has set a two-week time frame, saying in a statement on Thursday that HSH Prince Albert II has decided to extend all current health measures until 2nd April.
Therefore, the curfew between 7pm and 6am will remain in place, as well as the rules relating to restaurants: lunch time service only between 12pm and 3pm, and places reserved solely for residents, employees and students of the Principality.
Mandatory teleworking in the private and public sectors also remains in force, with the aim of “reducing the influx of people from outside the Principality while maintaining economic activity,” said the government.
With more than 5,000 Covid tests per week in Monaco, figures show that the virus is still in active circulation following a slight rebound after the February holidays. As of last week, the incidence rate in Monaco was 221 per 100,000 inhabitants.
“Admittedly, the incidence rate has been halved compared to the beginning of February, but it remains high, placing the Principality at the level recorded at the end of December 2020,” said the government.
The number of hospitalisations has also fallen, however the number of patients treated at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre remains high, with 48 patients including 14 in intensive care on Wednesday.
“The health situation therefore requires us not to lower our guard. Once again, the health authorities insist on maintaining vigilance in the private sphere where more than half of the contaminations occur during convivial meetings,” cautions the government.
Hand washing, social distancing, room ventilation, and individual use of cutlery and glasses is recommended within the home.
The government says the health measures may be extended again, depending on the evolution of the health situation.
 
Photo by Hani Agha
 
 

EMA concludes AstraZeneca is safe

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/03/2021

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has joined the World Health Organisation in clearing the AstraZeneca shot as a safe and effective vaccine, but the EMA said it could not definitively rule out a connection between a risk of clotting and the vaccine.
“The committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion: this is a safe and effective vaccine,” European Medicines Agency chief Emer Cooke told a press conference.
“The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots.”
The statement comes after a probe by both the EMA and the WHO following suspension of the vaccine in 13 member states, including Italy and France, over concerns the jab involves a higher risk of blood clots.
Ms Cooke added that they could not definitively rule out a link to blood clot incidents and the vaccine and they would continue to study possible links.
The EMA added that no particular batch of the vaccine had been found to have an issue.
Both Europe’s medicine’s agency and the World Health Organisataion have now said that the incidence rate of blood clotting would be the same in the general population even with no vaccination programme.
“These are rare cases – around 20 million people in the UK and EEA had received the vaccine as of March 16 and EMA had reviewed only 7 cases of blood clots in multiple blood vessels (disseminated intravascular coagulation, DIC) and 18 cases of CVST. A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and deserves further analysis,” said the EMA in a statement on its website.
France’s health authorities suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine pending the EMA’s decision. It is now expected to resume its usage across the country.
Monaco is due to receive 7,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of the month.
 
Related stories:

WHO experts maintain AstraZeneca jab is safe

 
Photo by CDC on Unsplash
 
 

YCM celebrates NZ’s America’s Cup win

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/03/2021

Monaco Yacht Club Committee Member Matteo de Nora and winner of Monaco’s sailing personality of the year Grant Dalton have led the New Zealand Team to victory in this year’s America’s Cup challenge.
26 years after their first Cup win, New Zealand took out their fourth victory in the 36th America’s Cup on Wednesday on their home turf.
Team principal Matteo de Nora, Kiwi captain Grant Dalton, and the crew were commended by the Yacht Club of Monaco for their win over Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
“Congratulations to Matteo de Nora, member of our committee, Grant Dalton and Team New Zealand who won the famous America’s Cup silver ewer for the fourth time (1995, 2000, 2017, 2021),” the YCM said on its website and social media.
Not to leave out their worthy counterparts, the Yacht Club also made mention of the Italian team, saying, “Thank you also to Patrizio Bertelli’s Luna Rossa and our friends at Circolo Della Vela Sicilia, winners of the #PradaCup for a thrilling spectacle that had us on the edge of our seats.”
Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa were neck and neck much of the last race, making for a nail-biting experience. By the final gate, though, it was clear that New Zealand would take the cup as they had a full 49 second lead over their Italian opponents.
The entire country rallied behind the “Five Million Team” (named for a country with a population of five million), the most successful Cup team in nearly three decades. It was a race and a win that saw them take out the oldest sporting trophy in international sport.
International businessman and philanthropist Matteo de Nora is on the Management Committee of the Monaco Yacht Club, serving as a Sailing Division Officer.
Team Captain Grant Dalton received Monaco’s sailing personality of the year in 2001, and has raced in six Volvo and Whitbread races, winning the Maxi class in 1993-1994. He took over the New Zealand America’s Cup team in 2003.
 
By Cassandra Tanti and Stephanie Horsman
 
Photo source: America’s Cup Facebook page
 
 
 

WHO experts maintain AstraZeneca jab is safe

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/03/2021

The World Health Organisation has handed down its opinion on the overall safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, ahead of a decision by Europe’s medical regulator about whether the shots are linked to blood clots.
Several European Union nations, including France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, have suspended use of the vaccine developed by pharma giant AstraZeneca over concerns the jab involves a higher risk of blood clots.
After analysis by experts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially defended the vaccine on Wednesday, saying that “the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.”
The WHO stance, which is based on the scientific evidence so far provided from the millions of vaccines already given, makes a special point to remind the public that blood clots are common occurrences, and that the two may not be at all linked.
“Vaccination against Covid-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes,” WHO said in its statement. “Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.”
They go on to say, “In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunisation. This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place.”
The actions of the European countries have been surprising to some health experts, including those in the European Medicines Agency (EMA) who is due to give its report on the safety of the vaccine this week. Some outside of Europe also view the suspension as a nasty political move against the British-Swedish company as part of the aftermath of Brexit.
This is one of a series of confrontations from the EU involving this particular jab. After initially approving the vaccine, the EU accused AstraZeneca of giving the UK preferential treatment after it was announced that rollout in Europe would be slower than expected due to a delay in the EU signing contracts.
The EU then cast doubts about the efficacy of the jab in older individuals, but quickly did an about-face on that stance.
When the rollout on the continent was off to a rocky start, they then threatened to block shipments of the vaccine from leaving the continent in order to boost their own supplies. Now its blood clots.
“The AstraZeneca candidate vaccine does seem to have been a bit of a political football, for reasons I don’t really understand,” Michael Head, senior research fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton, told CNN. “It’s all been a bit unedifying to watch from a scientific point of view. In terms of the science behind the vaccine, it’s safe, it’s effective, it’s a very good vaccine.”
No case of clotting has of yet been directly linked to the vaccine, but some of the profiles have raised red flags, despite them being very few in number. Germany has seen seven cases of a rare brain clot. Norway has three patients with conditions different from the Germans, but the same as each other, and the Dutch have reported 10 cases of clotting with yet another profile.
The reported incidents are not in great enough numbers to cause concern in the health community.
Last week, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recommended that those eligible should get their Covid vaccinations. “The small number of reported thrombotic events relative to the millions of administered Covid-19 vaccinations does not suggest a direct link,” said the society in a statement.
AstraZeneca also came out with a review on Sunday saying that over 17 million people in the EU and UK have been administered the inoculation and of those, 15 deep vein thrombosis events have cropped up and 22 pulmonary embolisms have happened, lower than what would be normally naturally occurring in the population.
They also reminded end users that those people receiving vaccinations at the moment are more likely to suffer clots due to their age or status as vulnerable people, and that the Covid-19 disease itself carries a significant risk of clotting.
 
Related stories:

EMA concludes AstraZeneca is safe

 
Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash
 
 

Helping students navigate a path to success

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/03/2021

For 11 years, the Commission for the Integration of Graduates has been helping students prepare for and enter the workforce. So, how did 2020 shape up?
The Commission for the Integration of Graduates (CID), chaired by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, submitted its annual activity report for 2020 this week, showing that the programme continues to go from strength to strength.
Since its creation in 2010, the CID has been an important facilitator in student’s lives in the Principality. It is responsible for improving access to working life for young graduates – Monegasques, residents and those with ties to the Principality, by developing links with dynamic and successful companies in the Monegasque market.
In addition to its Chairman, Monaco’s Minister of State, members include government ministers, members of the National Council, and representatives of the Employers’ Federation and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
The 2020 report shows that nine new companies partnered with the CID last year, bringing the total to 205 since 2010. The CID programme was used by 198 new students or graduates, and 46 internships were arranged. In addition, 21 work-study positions were filled and 78 inquiries were assisted.
Overall, the CID helped to find 39 jobs for students in 2020, bringing the total to 337 over the space of 11 years.
Interestingly, the report showed an increasing shift towards the Marketing, Communication and Commerce sector, with 26% of students who found employment from 2010 to 2020 studying in this area. “Over the years, we can observe an increase in the number of students moving towards these studies to the detriment of the Legal, Finance and Construction sectors,” say the authors of the report.
Meanwhile, in the year 2020, 15.2% of students studied Finance, 14.9% focussed on Law, 11.3% in AAdministration and HR, 9.2% in Construction and Engineering, 5.4% Technology, 5.4% in Social and Health, 5.4% Hospitality and 4.2% in Science.
Taking into account all the students monitored by the CID, 60% have held a minimum Bac +5 since the year 2010.
In 2020, 198 Monegasque students, new graduates and expatriates were able to benefit from the services of the CID for job search, work-study or internship opportunities, or simply to obtain information on promising sectors in the Principality. The number of young people involved increased by 41% compared to 2019.
A breakdown of demographics shows a relatively even distribution among the sexes, with 107 females and 91 males in 2020. However, some areas of study continue to see gender inequality, namely engineering, which had one female and 11 male students.
Meanwhile, 80% of students followed were bilingual English/French, an essential factor in gaining employment in the Principality today.
While 12 new companies were recruited to join the CID initiative last year, the Covid-19 health crisis had an enormous impact on the internship programme, particularly in France and abroad. As a result, some students preferred to undertake their internships in Monaco.  “Despite numerous constraints linked to the health crisis (teleworking of managers, CTTR, etc.), the companies contacted to welcome interns did their best to respond favourably to internship requests,” states the report. “Of the 46 internship searches, 42 were positive for 2020, one was transformed into a project tutored by the school, one was cancelled and two are being processed for spring or summer 2021.”