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Day: 30 March 2021

New report on Human Health and Ocean Pollution

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2021

A report initiated by Monaco on the impact of ocean pollution on human heath has been presented, and its conclusions are worrying. However, it is not all doom and gloom.
Founded during Monaco Ocean Week 2019, the Monaco Commission on Human Health and Ocean Pollution met for the second time on Monday, when a report was presented highlighting the impact of pollutants on human health as well as presenting possible ways to limit the pollution of the seas.
Made up of 18 scientists who represent research centres or international organisations, the committee is chaired by Professor Patrick Rampal from the Scientific Center of Monaco (CSM), Professor Philip Landrigan of Boston College and chaired by Dr Hervé Raps, also of CSM.
The report had several major conclusions, including that ocean pollution is “widespread, worsening, and in many places poorly controlled”. It states the major source is human activity that releases unwanted wastes into the sea, and that over 80% of the pollutants come from land-based sources. Researchers also found that ocean pollution does not stay localised and can be found in places once thought to be pristine such as the abysses and Artic regions.
In addition, they found that ocean pollution has several negative impacts on human health and well-being and the effects are growing. From mercury poisoning in unborn foetuses and phytochemicals killing marine microorganisms that produce much of the world’s oxygen supply, to human waste runoff creating antibiotic resistance and accelerating the proliferation of life-threatening illnesses, the problem is real and imminent. The impact falls disproportionately on small island nations, indigenous communities in the far north, coastal communities in the far south and fishing villages the world over.
It’s not only humans who suffer. Marine life is also at high risk. Plastics are killing seabirds, fish and marine mammals whilst chemicals are destroying coral reefs and fish stocks, threatening the food security of millions.
The report was not all gloom and doom, though. The good news is that ocean pollution can be prevented and controlled through “targeted, data-driven strategies based on law, policy and technology backed by strong enforcement.”
At the end of the meeting, a public presentation of the Monaco Report and Declaration was made by Professor Landrigan.
 
 

First report on health impact of Covid

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/03/2021

IMSEE has provided a clear snapshot of the health and mortality impact of Covid-19 in 2020 on the Principality in a comprehensive new report.
In June 2020, then Minister of State Serge Telle requested that Monaco’s statistics body IMSEE produce a report for the government documenting the consequences of the health crisis in various areas.
On Tuesday, IMSEE released its report, measuring the impact of Covid primarily in the spring and taking into consideration the pre-lockdown period, the lockdown period and the period of partial resumption of activity. It also compared monthly figures to past years, where applicable.
The report lays out the consequences of the pandemic according to seven main themes: health and mortality, the economy, employment, transport, the environment, early childhood and education, and security.
While previous IMSEE reports have stated the pandemic’s impact on the economy and employment in the Principality, this report highlights for the first time the full health impact of the virus.
Hospitalisations
According to the report, the number of hospitalisations first peaked between 26th March and 2nd April 2020 with 10 to 11 hospitalisations, before falling and remaining at close to zero between 6th May and 29th August. The number of people hospitalised in Monaco began to rise again in September with four to six patients, however the number of cases in intensive care never exceeded two over this period.
As of 6th October 2020, the cumulative number of cases had reached 224, or 0.6% of the population. 15.6% of cases required hospitalisation, 35 cases in total, including eight in intensive care.
Women versus men
More than six in 10 positive cases of Covid-19 were men. Over 30% were aged 60 and over, and 40% were younger than 40-years-old.
Men were slightly more likely to be hospitalised than women, with 16.4% compared to 14.3%. Men and women were, however, equally likely to need resuscitation, which was necessary in 3.6% of cases.
Age factor
The likelihood of hospitalisation increased with age. Only 2% of cases under the age of 30 were hospitalised, compared to a third of patients aged between 70 and 79 years, and more than three quarters after 80 years of age. Patients aged between 60 and 69 years had a two in 10 chance of requiring hospitalisation.
Recovery time
The average healing time was 18.9 days overall, 17.3 days for cases outside hospitalisation and 17.1 days for cases followed at home.
The average length of hospitalisation was 13.5 days in general, and 8.8 days for patients without a stay in intensive care.
Death rates
Based on data from the Civil Registry of Monaco City Hall, monthly mortality rates were also examined between 2011 and 2020. It is important to note, however, that the pandemic’s grip on the Principality, including the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths, increased exponentially at the start of 2021 and have not been considered in this analysis.
The report showed that the total number of deaths recorded in Monaco from January to September 2020 was 387, almost the same level than the average observed between 2011 and 2019 with 390.
Regarding Monegasque citizens specifically, there were 199 deaths of residents in Monaco between January and September 2020 compared to 175 on average between 2011 and 2019.
The month of March 2020 saw a surplus of around 10 deaths compared to the 2011 to 2020 average, and the people who died were on average 2.3 years older than normal at 86.8 years.
However, IMSEE concluded in its report that, “although the data shows an excess of deaths in March 2020 compared to the average, the elements available do not allow it to be attributed directly to Covid-19.”
IMSEE notes that the results should be taken with caution given the small size of the numbers studied. Additionally, the figures take into account only the deaths of residents in Monaco, not of those outside of the Principality.
Event industry
The report also analysed staged events in the Principality with data collected from the Tourism and Congresses Department.
Due to the strict health measures that were put in place, at the beginning of September 2020, 42 events had been cancelled, 30 were postponed to a later date, and eight were maintained between September and December.
Following the cancellation of events, it is estimated that almost 260,000 participants would have potentially been present, including 200,000 during the Monaco Grand Prix. Day visitors constitute approximately 60% of the participants in this event.
To read the full report, click here.
In conclusion
In its summary, IMSEE noted that the epidemic has still not been contained and its consequences continue to be felt both economically and socially, in the Principality and at the global level, with new measures taken by governments every day to protect populations.
The statistics body will now publish a monthly Covid-19 Impact Observatory report presenting the most recent health indicators and a review of demographic data including birth rates and mortality.
 
 

New partnership a boost for incubator and economy

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/03/2021

Monaco Foundry has secured the investment of an historic Monegasque family, giving the business accelerator more opportunity to “empower the next generation and break the status quo”, while boosting the local economy.
It’s been just over 12 months since Fabrice Marquet co-founded Monaco Foundry in the Principality. With a career as a medtech research scientist, the Monegasque native was responsible for establishing the government-run incubator MonacoTech before he set his sights on this new venture.
Now, the company has secured the financial backing of an old Monaco family investment fund named 4Stars, managed by Pleion Group Monaco.
“When we provide recommendations for long term interests, we take a global view of Monaco and take everything into consideration,” says Frank Musso, Senior Advisor in Wealth Management at Pleion Group Monaco. “Monaco Foundry encapsulates the real future of Monaco and innovation.”
Monaco Foundry bills itself as a one stop shop for early to mid-stage companies, providing them with hands-on business development support and access to a team of serial entrepreneurs, former senior government advisors, former advisors to US Presidents, Fortune 500 executives, and venture capitalists.
There are currently 11 companies under its wing and Fabrice Marquet says three more are in the process of signing. The enterprises are in various spaces from muscle recovery solutions, concussion prevention, digital diabetes reversal, anti-counterfeiting nanotechnology, and a revolutionary app for wine tasting, to new VR economies.
“Each company has been hand-picked with the intention to make the world a better and healthier place, one founder at a time,” Fabrice Marquet tells Monaco Life. “We are humbled that a historic Monegasque family shares our vision and has invested in Monaco Foundry. This is a testament that they are truly concerned about the youth and that they believe, like us, that the status quo is not the answer. One of our core missions at Monaco Foundry is to empower the next generation to break the old way of thinking that is still ruling and ruining our world.”
With KPMG, who has developed a new start-up program, and the backing of Pleion, Mr Marquet says the company is poised to not only advance innovative solutions, but to also have a significant impact on the Monegasque economy.
“Our goal is to always identify and relocate new economic models adapted to the constraints of Monaco which will contribute to the future development of our country,” says the Monegasque. “Two of our start-ups, Ludi Therapeutics (biotech) and DWorld (VR for retail and tourism), both newly incorporated in Monaco, bring new avenues of development to historic sectors of our country that have been suffering terribly. We are also in advanced discussions with two other Monegasque companies that we hope to announce very shortly.”
 
Related stories:

Interview: Fabrice Marquet

 
 

Rare Roca team loss

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2021

The Roca boys took a rare beating on Monday night in their Jeep Elite match against Cholet just two days after a spectacular win against Buducnost Podgoria in the Euro Cup quarterfinals.

The Roca team was uncharacteristically not “on” Monday night when they faced off against Cholet in a Jeep Elite game at home at Gaston Médecin. Perhaps it was exhaustion, as they had just come off a tough away game in Ljubljana two days prior, but in any case, it simply wasn’t their night.

It wasn’t a total disaster at first, in fact Monaco started off strong, staying well in the lead. At the end of the first quarter, the score was a comfortable 24 to 16.

The second quarter brought a strong Cholet team into play. They scored an astonishing 21 free throws in the first half with 17 in the second quarter alone.

From the third quarter, Monaco started losing their stride, and Cholet took full advantage taking, and then extending, their lead until the final buzzer went off with a crushing 76 to 97 loss for the Roca boys.

“We are called out for 17 free throws during the second quarter, that must be a European record,” said Coach Mitrovic. “These throws put Cholet back in the match, they gained confidence and then they deserved their victory. Damien Inglis’ injury in the first half? It is a blow to the head. He will take tests, we will know on Tuesday if he is able to play against Podgorica. We hope so. otherwise, it would be problematic.”

Monaco made 30 out of 60 shots, going eight for 16 in three point range. They had 22 rebounds, 19 assists and five steals. Abdou Ndoye and JJ O’Brien were high scorers with 11 points each followed by Ibrahima Faye and Will Yeguete with 10 each.

No rest for the Roca boys as they next play on 31st March in their second face off against Buducnost at home for Euro Cup 7 play.

 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release 
 
 

Protesters demand “real climate law”

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/03/2021

Demonstrations were held in Menton, Beausoleil and Nice on Sunday by protesters wanting the French government to give more weight to a new climate law conceived by the Citizens’ Convention.

Environmental associations around the Riviera organised the marches on the eve of the examination of the climate bill in France proposed by the Citizen’s Convention for the Climate.

The Citizen’s Convention was dubbed a social experiment of the highest order, involving 150 randomly selected people who made proposals to the government to help lower emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels in “the spirit of social justice.”

On Twitter, Citoyens pour le Climate said, “We recall that the health situation – whose origins are common to climate change – is tense. We will dissociate ourselves from all those who would like to take advantage of the event to disseminate their denialist theories.”

On Facebook, Citoyens pour le Climate published a poster of Marianne, a symbol of France herself, wearing a daisy in her hair with the slogan “let’s take back power over lobbycracy.”

The members of the Citizens’ Convention denounced the “too important influence” of lobbies in government which, according to them, “diluted” their proposals. The fight for the climate is concentrated in the corridors and offices of the National Assembly where lobbyists from industry, companies, unions or economic sectors have stated their concerns about how the new climate laws impact them.

Some of these factions ask for the laws to be watered down or not implemented at all, as they are counter to their purposes. Others ask for stronger implementations.

It is politics as usual say the climate people and a question of whose voices are heard comes down to deep pockets.

 
Photo by Laurent Lanquar-Castiel