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Day: 4 August 2021

Female figures honoured in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/08/2021

Three roads in Monaco will be named after women who have contributed to the growth and influence of the Principality.
Meeting for an extraordinary session on 28th July, the Communal Council voted unanimously to name three public roads on the Promenade du Larvotto. Place Anne-Marie Campora is being named after the former Mayor of Monaco from 1991 to 2003, the Promenade Princesse Louise-Hippolyte will pay homage to the Sovereign of Monaco in 1731, and Place Josephine Baker will be named after the American-born French entertainer, Resistance agent and civil rights activist, who is laid to rest in the Monaco cemetery.
“These proposals, which have received the approval of HSH the Sovereign Prince and HRH the Princess of Hanover, respond to the Communal Council’s wish to assign the names of female figures who have contributed to the growth and influence of the Principality,” said the Mairie de Monaco in a statement.
 
 
Photo by the Mairie de Monaco
 
 
 

What constitutes a health pass in Monaco?

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/08/2021

Digital health passes are now mandatory for all foreigners wanting to eat out in Monaco, but what if your country hasn’t issued you a QR code, like the United States?
For a foreigner in Monaco, a valid QR code is the key that unlocks the doors to restaurants, bars and cultural venues, as the government tries to balance controlling the spread of Covid with maintaining economic activity in the Principality.
From August 23rd, this obligation will be extended to citizens and residents as well.
For those living in Monaco, France, or the European Union, QR codes are easily accessible through the Monaco Safe Pass, TousAntiCovid app or the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
But for citizens outside of the EU, the process is not as clear. Those vaccinated in the United States, for example, only have a handwritten card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to show as proof, and many have asked us at Monaco Life whether this will be accepted in the Principality.
The answer is yes. The Covid-19 information service has confirmed to us that paper certificates identifying a person’s vaccination status is accepted at all necessary points in the Principality.
What constitutes a health pass?
There are very specific rules, however, as to what is acceptable proof of health status. People either have to show they have completed a vaccination programme and received two doses of an EU-approved vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or one dose of Johnson & Johnson no less than two-weeks previously; a negative PCR or antigen test taken within the last 48 hours, or a Covid-19 recovery certificate that is less than six months old.
Why the confusion?
The situation differs greatly in nearby France, where paper proof of vaccination is not always accepted. Americans have been told that they can obtain a QR code health pass at pharmacies upon presentation of their paper documentation. This has been easy for some, not for all.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Paris confirmed to The Connexion that UK NHS vaccination certificates are not yet compatible with France’s health pass scanning tool which will be used in restaurants, bars and many other venues in France from next week.
Don’t forget your ID
Upon entry to a restaurant or cultural venue in Monaco, customers will be asked to present their health pass or vaccination certificate. The name on these certificates will be cross referenced with a valid form of identification, so be sure to carry both when you head out in Monaco.
 
 
Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life
 
 
 

Princess reveals October return to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/08/2021

Princess Charlene says she is planning to return to Monaco by the end of October. In the meantime, she has teamed up with her husband’s foundation for a species-saving mission in South Africa.
Princess Charlene’s trip to her native South Africa several months ago took an unexpected turn when she fell ill with a serious infection following a sinus lift and bone graft surgery she had before her departure.
Speaking to South Africa Radio 702 host Mandy Wiener last week, the princess said, “Initially, I was supposed to be here for 10 to 12 days. Unfortunately, I had a problem equalising my ears, and I found out through the doctors that I had a sinus infection and quite a serious one. So, it’s taking time to address this problem. I cannot go into full detail, but I cannot force healing, so I will be grounded in South Africa until the end of October.”
The Princess of Monaco says she is feeling “well”, despite playing a waiting game in South Africa. “It’s the longest period I’ve actually been away from Europe, let alone my children, but I’m Face Timing them most days and they’ve been here and will be returning to see me again after my procedure. But I cannot predict how my healing process will go (…) I’m very sad I can’t be with my children this summer in Europe.”
When asked if she would have liked to accompany her husband Prince Albert to the Tokyo Games, the former Olympic athlete said that she “salutes the South African athletes that have taken a very high risk to be in Japan during a pandemic,” but conceded, “I don’t think I would have liked to have gone to Japan, no.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, Princess Charlene said that it is “wonderful” to be back in South Africa, and there is now a much larger purpose to her time in the African continent.
“I have united my foundation with my husband’s and I am using Sub-Saharan Africa to work because there are a number of things that need to be addressed in this country. There is a deterioration of a species, the rhinoceros, that has walked this planet for millions of years and is on the verge of extinction. Something needs to be done about this. I am using every network and every means possible to get the attention of the world, to get everyone behind me to stop this.”
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation revealed in June that it was uniting with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation for this year’s Monte-Carlo Gala, an annual fundraising event that has drawn in millions for the Prince’s environment-focussed foundation.
Unfortunately, the Princess’ October return date means that she will be unable to attend the exclusive gala, which will take place on 23rd September at the Prince’s Palace.
 
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Photo shared by Princess Charlene on her Instagram account
 
 

PACA reactivates ‘white plan’ amid 43% ICU occupancy

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/08/2021

France’s Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region will be implementing its ‘white plan’ in hospitals as it struggles to cope with the highest number of Covid patients in the country.
Nearby Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA) has joined Corsica in launching the emergency measure to counter a fourth wave of the virus, being driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
According to the latest government data, intensive care occupancy has reached 43% in the PACA, compared to 26% nationally, with 197 ICU patients in the region’s hospitals.
The ‘white plan’ (plan blanche) means that hospitals can prepare for a forthcoming rise in cases, including measures such as reorganising spaces to include more beds, transferring non-urgent patients to other services, and postponing or changing non-urgent operations.
The move comes as no surprise. The incidence rate in the Alpes-Maritimes, a department of PACA, has skyrocketed in recent weeks to reach 733 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to a national incidence rate of 225.
Activation of the white plan is expected to make an additional 100 ICU beds available within the week, as health staff are called back from vacation.
According to reports, the average age of patients in the region is 54 and almost all are unvaccinated.
The city of Bastia in Corsica reactivated its white plan last week for a minimum period of four weeks, with the hospital more than 79% occupied.
 
 
Photo source: Pixabay
 
 

Outrage over racial slurs against AS Monaco player

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/08/2021

AS Monaco has filed a complaint over alleged racial abuse hurled at Aurelien Tchouameni during a Champions League qualifier match against Sparta Prague.
Sparta Prague fans have been referred to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for purportedly chanting racist slurs directed at Monaco striker Aurelien Tchouameni during the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round in the Czech capital.
Tchouameni had just scored with a header in the 37th minute of play, the first goal of the match, when the chanting broke out. Teammates immediately informed match official, referee Michael Oliver, as well as Monaco Head Coach Niko Kovac to complain. There was a three-minute game stoppage in order to follow UEFA protocols for such situations.
A message was then played on the public address system stating that the game would be shut down if any further racist remarks were heard.
In the locker room during halftime, the players were reported to be shaken by the turn of events. Coach Kovac offered strong leadership, reminding the players that, whilst the incident was unacceptable, they were there to play football and that they must return to the field with their heads held high and continue to play.
“We are all devastated that in the 21st century this kind of thing still happens on the football pitch or indeed in society. We are all equal, and we are here to play football. I must say that I am very proud of my players because we had the right reaction,” Kovac said. “A football field is part of the world. Those types of attitudes have to be stopped. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”
The Red and Whites were vindicated in the end, winning the game 2 to nil.
“We won on the pitch and we won against racism. I think that is the most important message tonight, and what is also important is to say is that it was only a small number of supporters, a minority, who were guilty of this,” said Kovac, who added that he spoke to the opponent’s coach and told him he knew it wasn’t his fault, but that his players deserved respect.
This isn’t the Czech Republic’s only racially spurred incident of late. Last April, Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela was found guilty of assaulting Ranger’s player Glen Kamara in a tunnel after a Europa League meeting in March. Kudela was banned for 10 matches.
Monaco heads back to the Principality for the return leg, which is to be played Tuesday next at Stade Louis II, with the stakes being a place in the play-offs against the winner of the tie between Shakhtar Donetsk and KRC Genk, on 17th and 25th August.