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Month: August 2021

No health pass, no entry from Monday 9th August

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/08/2021

France’s top constitutional authority on Thursday approved a health pass that limits access to cafes, restaurants and inter-city trains and planes to people who have been vaccinated, developed antibodies, or tested negative for the virus.
The controversial pass, which will be extended on Monday, prompted widespread protests across the country by people arguing the move went against their fundamental freedoms.
But the Constitutional Court said the restrictions put forward by President Emmanuel Macron and approved by parliament last month represented a “balanced trade-off” between public health concerns and personal freedom.
The legislation, drawn up as France tackles a fourth wave of infections driven by the Delta variant, goes further than most other European nations in conditioning daily-life activities on the health pass.

Since 21st July, France had already required a pass to access venues accommodating more than 50 people, including most museums, cinemas and swimming pools. From 9th August, this will be extended to restaurants, bars, cafes, large shopping malls and long-distance trains.

Meanwhile, healthcare workers must get inoculated by mid-September or face suspension until at least mid-November.

But the court rejected as “disproportionate” the government’s wish to force people with Covid infections into isolation for 10 days.
The court’s judges also struck down another provision which would allow employers to dismiss people on fixed-term or temporary contracts if they don’t have a pass.
Staff can, however, be suspended from work without pay if they lack a pass if the nature of their job demands it because, for instance, it brings them into contact with the public.
The health pass will come into force for children aged 12 to 17 on 30th September.
France recorded more than 26,000 new Covid cases in 24 hours on Friday, while intensive care occupancy is at 28%.
 
 
Photo of restaurant in Paris by Alex Harmuth on Unsplash
 
 
 

“Life is Beautiful” with artist Houda Bakkali

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/08/2021

Monaco’s Le Pinocchio restaurant will be featuring private viewings of the works of artist Houda Bakkali this month, inviting guests to experiment with augmented reality as they admire her special brand of visual art.
Barcelona-based Houda Bakkali wants us all to look at the world the way she does: in a positive light. After a year and a half of bad news, the artist is asking people to remember, through her latest exhibition at Le Pinocchio restaurant, that “Life is Beautiful” and to be grateful despite all the difficulties life presents.
“With the new graphic series ‘Life is Beautiful’, the international visual artist Houda Bakkali launches a universal message of optimism and hope, more necessary than ever in these strange dark times that humankind is experiencing due to the global pandemic and the unpredictability of its evolution,” Juliet Art Magazine said of her exhibition. “While the whole world is sick, disoriented and frightened by the future, the Spanish artist concentrates on the digital canvas, all the most vibrant and incredible colours that nature and pixels are able to offer to create a real explosion of joy of against which it is impossible to remain neutral.”
It would, indeed, be hard to stay neutral upon seeing the works on offer by the vibrant Bakkali, which will be on display from 9th to 22nd August. Loaded with imagery depicting strong females and representing iconic feminine themes such as flowers, curves and colour, her work is much like the artist herself.

Le Pinocchio restaurant is located in the old town of Monaco, photo provided

Le Pinocchio has hosted the artist in the past. She had a show in the midst of the pandemic back in October of 2020 where she displayed her Africa series as well as debuting a new piece at the time called Crazy Heart.
“At this very particular time that we live because of the pandemic, we must find new ways to continue sharing our creativity with the public,” said Bakkali at the time. “My art is essentially digital, so this virtual presentation is a perfect option to bring the public closer to my creative process. In Monaco, I feel at home. It is a country that I love and being able to show my work in such an emblematic place as Le Pinocchio is a great honour. I am very grateful and happy for this opportunity.”
Bakkali is an international visual artist and has exhibited around the globe, including in Paris, Madrid, Cannes, San Remo, New York, Barcelona, Córdoba, Biarritz and Lorc, as well as in the Principality.
 
 
 

Health Passes to be available for non-EU tourists

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/08/2021

The French government has announced that tourists vaccinated outside the EU will be eligible to obtain a health pass from Monday as the country’s mandatory pass rule comes into force.

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, the Secretary of State for Tourism in France, told French media on Thursday that foreign tourists will be able to get a health pass allowing fully vaccinated visitors from outside the European Union the same rights as those within the country. The government will use the same idea as for French nationals who live abroad and have been vaccinated with jabs recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

“Our goal is that, from 9th August, these tourists present on national soil can obtain passes on the same model as the French established outside France,” Lemoyne said on France Inter. “We are setting up a dedicated scalable device that will ramp up to meet these demands.”

Since Monday 2nd August, a system for French expats has been in effect allowing them to get a special health pass in order to return to French soil. 

The Constitutional Court, France’s top authority in matters such as these, approved on Thursday the controversial bill stating that health passes be mandatory for anyone wanting to access public places such as restaurants, cafes, fairs, and public transport, stating that the bill was a “balanced trade-off” between public health and personal freedom.

This will come into effect from Monday 9th August.

The addition of a health pass for foreigners will open up the country again to tourism, making it an attractive destination for travellers.

Foreign students are also being welcomed by the government. Lemoyne made a special point to say that “the principle is confirmed that we will welcome international students who are registered in the establishments.”

It has not been made public exactly how this will work, but the Secretary of State assured the public, “We will announce in the coming days the practical modalities which will allow them to come.”

 
 
Photo by Monaco Life
 
 
 

CleanEquity rewards innovative green companies

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/08/2021

A UK company behind the ‘smart meter’ that breaks down electricity bills to the level of individual appliances was one of three award winners for innovation at this year’s CleanEquity event in Monaco.
CleanEquity Monaco, the annual invitation-only conference organised by Innovator Capital and featuring the world’s best up and coming sustainable technology companies, showcased 17 organisations this year.
On 23rd July, three were selected as recipients of the CleanEquity Awards for Excellence.
US-based Conamix won the Award for Research for their use of sulphur cathodes in enabling the production of high energy batteries for electric vehicles. Their batteries are 25% less expensive than current lithium-ion technology and use no cobalt or nickel in production.
Vertoro, a company from the Netherlands, received the Award for Development for their work converting residual biomass into its liquid platform product, Goldilocks, providing a sustainable alternative for existing fossil oil refineries and petrochemical plants.
The final winner, Voltaware out of the UK, won the Award for Commercialisation. The company’s innovative smart meter utilises algorithms to accurately break down electricity bills to the level of individual appliances, unlocking use cases such as energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, safety and security to help end-user consumers save money and energy.
The runners-up were IPG from the UK, United States-based Agerpoint, and Purity Fuel, also from the US.
Awards were designed by Irish artist Claire McClusky, based on a 20-sided “platonic solid”, each symbolizing some aspect of water. They were fashioned using sustainable and traceable wood sourced from the Lisnavagh Timber Project in Carlow.
Prince Albert II said of the conference, “For the past decade, it has been a pleasure to participate in this conference, as it has always been instructive with the opportunity to meet fascinating people committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and making the world a better and fairer place.”
Innovator Capital, a London-based specialist investment bank, celebrated their 14th year holding the event and since its inception, more than 350 companies have presented ideas and products.
 
 
Photo left to right: CleanEquity co-founder Mungo Park, Bernard Fautrier, Michael Boot, Charlotte Hamilton and Rishabh Jalpuria
 
 

Sandrine Camia: Tourism was “positive” in July

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/08/2021

Monaco managed to achieve strong tourism figures in the month of July, despite the constraints brought about by the Covid pandemic and the reintroduction of some restrictions.
“The results from July are positive,” Sandrine Camia, Deputy Director of Tourism and Conventions told Monaco Info on Tuesday when speaking about the upswing in Monaco’s tourism this summer, especially compared to the “bummer summer” of 2020.
Hotel occupancy rates were up in July to 70% on average, a massive jump from the same time last year when they were sitting at a dismal 39%. The downside for clientele is that three, four and five star hotels across the board in the Principality have had to raise room rates in order to provide the same service as before Covid.
According to Camia, the clients coming to stay are generally wealthy Europeans, mainly French, Swiss, Italian and Belgian, looking for high-end accommodation, but the big news is that the Americans and those from the Middle East have returned, greatly boosting the sector.
One notable difference this year is that people tend to be making last minute bookings more than previous years, no doubt due to the ever-changing travel rules across the globe.
Monaco’s hotels have by and large taken this in their stride and adapted well, being more flexible with booking conditions.
In order to continue pulling in the tourists, the Department of Tourism and Conventions has been very active not only on the casual tourism front but also on the lucrative business tourist front.
“We have relaunched a campaign that debuted in the month of June called ‘Monaco For You… At Last’, where we deployed ads on television, in professional magazines and in travel magazines,” said Camia. “This campaign is having an effect.”
The future seems to be looking up, as well. The rest of the summer is forecast to carry on as in July, with September seeing the return of the large events that Monaco is known for.
“August seems to have the same outlook as July, and in September we expect the big comeback of business tourism, with three major events – the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Convention, the Monaco Yacht Show, and Luxe Pack,” Camia said. “We hope that it’s going to be under better conditions.”
 
 
 
Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department
 
 
 

Vote for compulsory vaccinations set for mid-September

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/08/2021

The official bill on compulsory jabs for “certain categories of people” in Monaco is now under consideration by the Committee on Social Interests and Miscellaneous Affairs before going to vote in September.
The mandatory Covid vaccination bill has been finalised by the government and was put on the table at the National Council’s last meeting on Tuesday. The bill will oblige people working in a selection of occupations who work with vulnerable individuals to be fully vaccinated or risk being let go.
The explanatory memorandum lays it out it plainly, saying, “It is clear that the current vaccination coverage rate is not yet satisfactory enough for certain categories of people, having, because of their activity, particular risks of contamination for themselves and for the vulnerable or fragile people they care for.”
To that end, healthcare workers and staff members of establishments, services or organisations whose mission is to welcome or accommodate vulnerable or fragile people, including volunteers, students and interns, must be vaccinated, whether they have regular direct contact with them or not. Reading between the lines, this means the bill could extend to restaurant, bar and hotel staff as well.
“This bill concerns the vaccination of staff in health establishments and those who carry out an activity in regular connection with vulnerable or fragile people,” President of the National Council, Stéphane Valeri said in a press release. “The National Council will not fail to amend it as necessary, with, as always, discernment, humanity and a sense of responsibility. It will be a question of understanding all aspects, especially the most sensitive on the human level, with a view to its vote in public session in mid-September.”
In a statement released late Thursday, the government said: “The objective of this text is to protect these professionals and workers from the particular risks of contamination by the SARS-CoV-2 virus for themselves, but also for the vulnerable or fragile people they take care of. Today, in the epidemic rebound phase that we are experiencing due to the Delta variant, 66% of health facility staff have received a first dose of a vaccine against Covid-19. It is imperative to further increase their immunisation coverage.
“For the Prince’s Government, this is an additional measure to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible, while ensuring the greatest possible protection. Indeed, commitment to a fragile or vulnerable person and a sense of service to others means not exposing those with whom we intervene. As such, caregivers, professionals working with vulnerable people, and volunteers accomplishing this type of mission must be protected in order to protect others.”
To allow time for people to get vaccinated, the law will not take effect until four weeks after the publication in the Journal of Monaco. If the employee misses this deadline, they can use their paid leave to fulfil the obligation. If the employee still has not gotten their inoculations, provided a valid proof of recovery or given a justified medical contradiction certificate, and their job requires this, they will continue to be paid at 50% for a four-week period, after which no remuneration will be given.
The government is serious about compliance and will hand out fines ranging from €200 to €600 for those who do not provide the documentation necessary, or for employers who do not meet the terms.
 
 
 
Photo by Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department