EU residents travelling to Italy will have to present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival in the country, while unvaccinated visitors will also be required to self-quarantine.
The announcement was made following a meeting of the Italian Council of Ministers on Tuesday and comes into effect on Thursday 16th December.
It means that even vaccinated visitors must show proof of a negative test, and the non-vaccinated must self-isolate for five days on arrival. The new rules will last until 31st January 2022.
It is unclear how they will be enforced for road travel into the country.
A senior EU official acknowledged that Italy’s actions undercut the objectives of the digital Covid certificate introduced to facilitate travel inside the bloc.
“These individual decisions of the states will decrease the trust of the people that there will be equal conditions everywhere in Europe,” EU Vice President for Values Vera Jourova told reporters on Tuesday evening, adding the move will be discussed when EU leaders meet on Thursday.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will also extend the government’s State of Emergency until 31st March 2022, which was due to expire at the end of this month.
The obligation to carry a ‘Super Green Pass’ in white zones has also been extended until 31st March, preventing the non-vaccinated in Italy from attending areas including indoor restaurants, cinemas, discos and stadiums.
Data by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Italy has recorded a total of 119,645 new cases in the last seven days and 642 deaths. The country has already recorded 27 cases of the new Omicron variant.
As of 14th December, the total number of Omicron cases detected in EU and EEA countries is 2,127.
Med Claims Compliance Corporation has secured $5.7 million in Series A funding for their artificial intelligence platform, Remit One, from leading healthcare venture capital funds and investors, including three from the Principality.
Despite having been around for quite some time, to most people artificial intelligence (AI) still sounds incredibly high-tech and futuristic, but it is a field that is growing every day, especially in the medical arena.
Artificial intelligence in medicine is described as a scientific speciality relating to research studies, projects, and applications that support decision-based medical tasks through knowledge and/or data-intensive computer-based solutions that aim to support and improve the performance of a human care provider.
Now, with the help of three Monaco angel investors and venture capital funds, Med Claims Compliance Corporation (MCC), a healthcare platform as a service company, has announced that they have completed a $5.7 million (€5.05 million) Series A financing round to transform the way healthcare is delivered, processed and paid.
Funding will give MCC the chance to expand and further develop their AI platform, Remit One, and will include building more AL and machine learning (ML) enhancements whilst continuing to develop the platform capabilities for better end user experiences. It will also allow for expansion into additional care settings and overall company growth.
“We are excited to continue expanding the RemitOneTM platform into new practices, new specialties, and new settings of care,” said John Bright, Founder and CEO of MCC. “Accurate and compliant medial documentation and efficient claims processing at the point of care doesn’t have to fall on our front-line providers and it doesn’t have to be kicked to the back office. It can be addressed front and centre, in a compliant fashion, with our platform. We are looking forward to MCC’s bright future where every day our change agents are fuelled by witnessing the sudden relief experienced by providers who are introduced to our platform with every implementation.”
The intended end result is that healthcare providers can focus on patients rather than paperwork. It also hopes to eliminate errors and make claims processing more streamlined and efficient, lessening headaches on both the patient and medical team sides.
Monaco investors Goldlog, Inc., The Monaco Venture Capital Association, and The Monaco SDG Foundation were joined in this venture by The Berning Group GMBH out of Dusseldorf, Beaufort Europe Technology Fund from Hamburg, LALUSA, LLC from Los Angeles, Houseguest 1022, also from Los Angeles, CA, ECOT Mgmt out of Southlake, Texas, McKinney PLC from Austin, Texas, Future, LLC from Chicago, S&J Private Equity from Middletown, Delaware, Sabra International and Rondo Investments out of Miami, Diamond Pointe Investments, LLC from Dallas, and private physicians from across the US and Europe.
Local doctors call for compulsory vaccination amid fifth wave
A group of doctors in Monaco and the Alpes Maritimes has signed a petition calling on the French government to mandate Covid vaccinations for everyone over the age of 18 as hospitalisations reach saturation levels amidst the ‘fifth wave’.
The unprecedented petition, published by Nice Matin, has been signed by 18 doctors from public hospitals and private clinics in the region.
“We are very worried about the future,” Dr. Jérôme Barrière, of the Polyclinique Saint-Jean in Cagnes-sur-Mer and instigator of the petition, told the newspaper.
Around 90% of the eligible population in France have received at least one Covid vaccination, however, that leaves five million unvaccinated adults who, say health professionals, are at risk of being hospitalised with a severe form of Covid.
“Today, (the unvaccinated) make up the majority of patients in critical care, with a median age of 60 years,” said Doctor Barrière. “I think everyone understands today that it is not the flu.”
The doctor, who specialises in cancer treatment, says that “healthcare systems are once again close to saturation” and other patients are suffering the consequences.
“In our establishment, for example, we have reserved an entire floor for Covid patients. How do we hospitalise patients with cancer or other infectious diseases? If everyone were vaccinated, we would be able to manage the influx of patients.”
In addition to calling for mandatory vaccination for everyone over the age of 18, the petition also calls for urgent action by the government to provide air purifiers in all public places such as schools, cinemas and businesses. “The vaccine is necessary, but not sufficient. If this type of measure is not applied, we will remain slaves to new variants for a very long time,” said Doctor Jérôme Barrière.
In Monaco, hospitalisations have risen quickly and, as of Wednesday 15th December, 11 people were being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital, including seven residents, while four additional non-residents were in intensive care. Wednesday also saw the largest number of daily Covid cases recorded in Monaco since the pandemic began – 63. Meanwhile, only 65% of the population is fully vaccinated.
In the Alpes-Maritimes, hospitalisations at the end of October 2021 amounted to 34, compared to 197 on Sunday, an increase of around 600%, including 37 patients in intensive care. This has retriggered the ‘white plan’, which allows hospitals to reorganise spaces to include more beds, transfer non-urgent patients to other services, and postpone or changenon-urgent operations. France has an overall vaccination coverage of 90.7%, which means around five million people are still unvaccinated.
The petition, in part, reads:
“We are sadly seeing once again that a fifth wave of Covid is leading to a significant and worrying increase in hospital burden across the country. Currently, we observe that the proportion of unvaccinated patients treated in our establishments poses a health risk to the entire population, because we will again run out of beds or staff to take care of other pathologies. The health workforce is exhausted, demoralised and we must collectively do everything to preserve and support them.
Vaccination has proven to have an overwhelming benefit/risk ratio in its favour. The emergence of the new Omicron variant should also lead us to be extremely cautious. Early data suggests that only a complete vaccination schedule (three doses) will provide strong protection against the risk of developing a severe form (of Covid).
We therefore urge unvaccinated people to go as soon as possible to a vaccination centre, to their doctor, to their pharmacy, in order to benefit from a first dose of the vaccine.
If no signal of acceleration of the first vaccine dose is observed very quickly, we ask the State to take its responsibilities and put in place the conditions of an obligation to vaccinate adults, as is envisaged now in several European countries.
Finally, we stress that while vaccination is necessary, it is not sufficient. It is essential that an air quality treatment policy be quickly associated with it, as the airborne risk has now been formally identified as the main mode of spread of the virus.”
The doctors who signed the petition are: Pdt of CME Hôpital Princesse GRACE, MONACO; Dr Philippe AYGALENQ, Pdt CME clinic du PALAIS, GRASSE; Dr Jérôme BARRIERE, Pdt CME Health Center SAINT JEAN, CAGNES-SUR-MER; Dr Frédéric BRACCINI, Pdt CME clinic SAINT FRANCOIS, NICE; Dr Philippe CAMARASSA, Pdt CME Institut A. TZANCK CARDIO pole, SAINT-LAURENT-DU-VAR; Dr Frédéric COLOMB, Pdt CME Center Hospitalier GRASSE; Dr Olivier GASTAUD, Pdt CME clinic PARC IMPERIAL, NICE; Dr Philippe FOLLANA, Pdt CME CENTER ANTOINE LACASSAGNE, NICE; Dr Muriel JOURDAN, CEO of CME Les SOURCES private hospital, NICE; Dr Dominique LANVIN, Pdt CME Arnault TZANCK private hospital, MOUGINS; Pr Jacques LEVRAUT, Pdt CME CHU NICE; Dr Mathieu LIBERATORE, Dr Abbo LORENZO, Pdte CME Center Hospitalier MENTON; Dr Vincent NGUYEN, Pdt CME OXFORD clinic, CANNES; Dr Sébastien NOVELLAS, Pdt CME Institut A.TZANCK, SAINT-LAURENT-DU-VAR; Dr Camille PATURAUD, Pdte CME SANTA MARIA, NICE; Dr Bruno PEBEYRE, Pdt CME Center Hospitalier CANNES; Dr Sorin VARTOLOMEI, Pdt CME clinic SAINT GEORGE, NICE; Dr Benjamin VERRIERE, Pdt CME Center Hospitalier, ANTIBES
Laurent Anselmi appointed chief of staff in cabinet shakeup
Monaco’s Minister of External Relations and Cooperation Laurent Anselmi has been selected as Prince Albert’s new chief of staff as part of a total overhaul of his inner cabinet, which is set to be complete my mid-January.
The news has been in the pipes for several weeks, but the official announcement was confirmed on Tuesday. Prince Albert II’s current chief of staff, the retiring Georges Lisimachio, will be replaced by current Government Advisor-Minister of External Relations and Cooperation Laurent Anselmi on 17th January.
“I would like to thank Georges Lisimachio for the loyalty and the sense of the State which he has shown throughout the years spent within the Prince’s cabinet, first as a member of it in 2005, then in office as Chief of Staff from 2006, and I pay tribute to the human and professional qualities with which he fulfilled his mission,” said the Prince in a statement.
Anselmi will become the third chief of staff under Prince Albert since the start of his reign in July 2005.
“The appointment of Laurent Anselmi comes at a time when we must now give the Principality another impetus for the years to come, around major strategic axes which are, in particular, the development of our economic, medical and cultural attractiveness, the acceleration of ecological and digital transitions, the strengthening of our security as well as the improvement of our quality of life, without forgetting the control of public expenditure and the development of new State revenues,” said the Prince. “Therefore, I wish to announce very soon the new composition of the government team and of a renewed cabinet.”
The current cabinet made up of Georges Lisimachio, Richard Milanesio, Anne-Marie Boisbouvier-Ancian and David Tomatis will be totally changed by mid-January, according to a report by Monaco Matin. The new cabinet is reportedly already formed, with Anselmi being the first to be confirmed.
The Prince’s government has seen some other changes in the recent past, including the appointment of Céline Caron-Dagioni to the post of Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning in September, replacing Marie-Pierre Gramaglia. Anselmi’s position will now need to be filled.
Photo source: Government Communication Department
Analysis: ASM’s high-press and the Ben Yedder conundrum
ASM’s eight game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of PSG, a run which can be largely attributed to Monaco’s effective high-press. Did Sunday’s loss expose weaknesses within this system?
The peak of Monaco’s pressing powers were evident during the comprehensive 3-1 victory away to Angers at the beginning of the month, prompting Nico Kovac to announce, “This is the way in which I want to see my team evolve.”
Since then, the characteristics of Kovac’s pressing ideology have become ever-more pronounced, with clearly identifiable pressing triggers, traps and patterns. Kovac, a proponent of an intense pressing philosophy, advocates for a strong press, understanding the potential rewards involved in winning the ball in the opponent’s third.
The intensity of the press itself has been facilitated by a tactical shift, which now sees Monaco utilizing a 4-2-3-1, as opposed to the 3-4-3, a formation which, for now at least, has seemingly exhausted its usefulness in Kovac’s eyes. The switch is now allowing more effective, coherent pressing patterns, and forcing sides into traps.
Sunday’s defeat in the French capital, some argued, highlighted deficiencies within Monaco’s high press. The problem, however, may not lie within the system itself, but can be attributed to a myriad of game-specific issues including line-up choice and the world-class talent at PSG’s disposal.
Firstly, it is worth identifying the characteristics that have contributed to the success of Kovac’s press, to identify how, if at all, it differed at the Parc des Princes. Man-to-man marking
A clearly distinguishable element of Kovac’s press is the man-to-man approach. Whenever the ball goes back to the opposition’s goalkeeper, the Monaco midfield pushes up, going man-to-man with the opposition midfield, whilst the wingers close down the defenders. The striker in the system will energetically hunt down the goalkeeper to rush him into a split-second decision.
This example from the Metz match, which ultimately leads to Sofiane Diop opening the scoring, demonstrates this system. The goalkeeper, without a short option will, more often than not, be forced into playing the ball long, which is unlikely to stick, or elicits an error from the goalkeeper. Either way, the ball is gifted back to Monaco, allowing them to regain possession and control the game.
In this circumstance, the keeper punted the ball long, but Aurélien Tchoumaméni, who was pushed high, just in-front of his opposite number, nipped in, intercepted and advanced the ball. The press is therefore acting not solely as a defensive tool, but also as a means of starting attacks in dangerous areas when the opposition haven’t had an opportunity to reset.
A pass back to the goalkeeper therefore represents a pressing trigger, which signals for the Monaco press to adopt a man-to-man press, therefore decreasing the opposition’s progressive passing options. Pressing triggers and traps
From early-on against Angers in particular, Monaco’s pressing triggers were very clear. This is, of course, largely thanks to the system implemented by Kovac, but tantamount to the philosophy itself is the on-pitch implementation from the players. Gelson Martins and Myron Boadu were very impressive, their game intelligence and recognition of certain triggers allowed Monaco to shepherd the opposition into undesirable positions.
The sixth minute of this game provided a perfect snapshot of Monaco’s attacking system, displaying its multiple components. Monaco’s press meant that Angers’ were frequently forced to utilise the wing-backs as a means of ball progression. Monaco caught the wing-backs in a pressing trap; as the ball came out to them, the Monaco wing-back, in this instance Ismail Jakobs, pushed up, using the right sideline as an extra defender and preventing Angers from progressing the ball through that flank.
Angers subsequently had to play back, which was then the trigger for Martins to put pressure on the ball, whilst Boadu, rather cleverly, was primed to put pressure on the other centre-back option, whilst also keeping the Angers left-back in his block-shadow – leaving the goalkeeper as the only available option.
As the ball was recycled back to the goalkeeper, the Monaco press shifted across to the left, this time it was the job of Diop to apply pressure to the man on the ball. Notably, Diop, just like Martins, curves his run, blocking off the progressive ball into the defensive midfielder. It is clearly something that Kovac has drilled into his attacking players, and that they, in turn, have taken on-board and executed perfectly.
Deprived of any other options, Angers played it into the opposite wing-back, and just as Jakobs prevented progression on the other flank, Djibril Sidibé did the same. As the ball was released, the trap was sprung and Sidibé advanced rapidly to close down the man on the ball, forcing him into an error.
On the rare occasion that Angers could progress the ball into the midfield, that was then a trigger for the centre-backs to step-up and put pressure on the ball. In this instance it is captain Axel Disasi, who as soon as the ball was played, stepped up and succeeded in dispossessing the Angers player. Condensing the space
All of these triggers and traps, which were meticulously executed, were extremely efficient at dispelling any attacking threat from the opposition. However, the success of Kovac’s press is two-fold, not only snuffing out threats, but also priming his side for an attack. As the Monaco press is so compact, and the space is compressed, it means that once the ball is recovered it can then be quickly advanced with a variety of short, progressive passing options.
In this instance, the Angers player receives the ball near the corner flag, with a man-to-man and zonal pressing approach, Monaco eradicate the progressive options, forcing the player into attempting a long ball. Tchouaméni, who is pressing high, then cuts it out, and due to the compactness of the Monaco unit, the French international midfielder can head it down to Jakobs, who is only a couple of yards away. Jakobs then advances the ball with a short dribble before being fouled. Disasi then scores from the resulting free-kick.
AS Monaco’s high press therefore has allowed them to control games by limiting the opposition’s options to advance through the phases, forcing long balls, which often gifts possession back to the Principality side.
On other occasions, the press is an attacking tool, allowing Monaco to win the ball high-up, whilst the opposition are still in an offensive shape. The compactness of the press not only allows man-to-man marking, but also allows players to adopt a zonal press, which keeps opposition players in block shadows, and therefore cuts off passing channels. The compactness then allows Monaco to advance the ball quickly, by offloading to a nearby teammate. Pressing against PSG
Monaco, thanks in part to their pressing, dominated possession in the first-half, but found themselves two goals down thanks to two individual errors. The same pressing triggers were evident. Notably, as soon as the PSG wing-backs received the ball, Monaco condensed the space, midfielders and wing-backs pushed up, and they used the sideline as an extra defender. In the instance below, Tchouaméni, manages to nip in and win the ball as the ball is shepherded into a player under pressure. It also triggered Caio Henrique to push up and apply pressure, just as Ismail Jakobs and Djibril Sidibé did against Angers.
What was lacking on Sunday, however, was the intensity and consistency of the press. Too often Marco Verratti, a world-class, press resistant midfielder, was allowed too much time on the ball to turn and pick a progressive pass, which allowed PSG to bypass the press.
The lack of intensity of the press, particularly from Wissam Ben Yedder, meant that PSG weren’t forced into making rushed, suboptimal decisions, and coupled with the world-class talent at PSG’s disposal, this was always going to be a recipe for disaster.
Before the PSG fixture, Kovac was critical of Ben Yedder’s work in the high-press, stating, “I am waiting for him to defend”. Statistically, Ben Yedder fares much worse in his pressing stats compared to his team-mates, as is demonstrated below:
This was also visually evident during the PSG match. In contrast to Boadu, who hassled and harried the Metz and Angers goalkeepers throughout his time on the pitch, Ben Yedder afforded the PSG goalkeeper ample time, allowing him to pick out a pass, whilst preventing Monaco from effectively shepherding the ball into pressing traps.
Monaco’s application of Kovac’s press therefore didn’t differ greatly from previous, more successful fixtures. The difference instead lay in the quality of PSG’s players in being able to break the press, as well as a lack of intensity brought about by the manager’s line-up choices.
Ben Yedder, a truly world-class striker, therefore represents a bit of a conundrum for Kovac. Although, ideally, he would like to fit him into his starting 11, his inability to carry out the manager’s pressing instructions may well make him more of a hindrance than a help in Monaco’s bid to reach the European places.
The need for united, global decision-making on climate action and biodiversity conservation has never been clearer. The effects of climate change on marine environments can be seen across the world – from loss of sea ice, to accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves. Climate change is upon us.
Nowhere is this more apparent than our coral reefs which are one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth.
ZSL has worked for decades to protect and restore coral reefs around the world, from grassroots conservation to delivering the best marine science, which has collectively informed global policy.
“The tiny living organisms known as coral polyps are the architects of some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth,” says Dr. Catherine Head, postdoctoral researcher at ZSL. “The reefs they build provide vital habitat, feeding, spawning and nursery grounds for more than a million aquatic species, while around 450 million people rely on them for sustenance, coastal protection and livelihoods.
“The enormous pressures on these priceless ecosystems are already clear to see. Coral bleaching, caused by rising sea surface temperatures, is an all-too-visible marker of polyp stress or death. Between 2014 and 2017, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef lost half its coral to bleaching incidents. In the last 30 years, climate change, pollution and overfishing have resulted in reef coverage decreasing by more than 50%.”
Prof. Heather Koldewey, Head of Bertarelli Marine Science Programme at ZSL adds, “In recent years, we have seen more frequent and more severe bleaching events that threaten the existence of coral reefs. Protected areas buy us some time, but we cannot save coral reefs without reducing our carbon emissions, specifically keeping warming to 1.5 degrees.”
Coastal communities will be the first to see devastating the effects of this, from increased erosion and swamped shorelines, loss of food and employment to health and wellbeing. ZSL’s conservationists have worked to support these communities and mitigate impacts, for example, establishing over 40 community-managed marine protected areas in the Philippines and a further ten in Mozambique. We have built local capacity through training programmes and supporting the protection and recovery of the most unique and irreplaceable coral species. We engage the millions of visitors to our two zoos in coral reef conservation through our pioneering exhibits and conservation breeding programmes.
Together with other conservation charities, we have enabled the protection of some of the largest marine protected areas, including the Chagos Archipelago which contains the World’s largest living coral atoll. Through research in this unique Indian Ocean observatory, our scientists have built an understanding of the health and resilience of coral reefs and the myriad of species that depend on them, from the tiniest shrimps to top predators like sharks. We have helped reveal a strong link between rich biodiversity and a thriving ecosystem, and the links between healthy islands and healthy reefs. Such insights inform management strategies that build the resilience of coral reefs, ranging from island restoration and supporting the 30×30 initiative to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
It’s essential that we put nature at the heart of global decision making and empower wildlife conservationists and climate change scientists to work together towards effective outcomes including reducing global CO2 levels. Economies worldwide need to come together and make the shift to a sustainable, low-carbon future, we may have to face the fact these dazzling and diverse habitats could be lost.
Together, with radical measures and nature-based solutions, we have an opportunity to change the future of our planet. ZSL’s pioneering work around the world shows that nature can return and thrive given the right combination of help. Our vision for the future, a world where wildlife thrives, is underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals and is led by the power and insight of our world leading science, boots on the ground field conservation and practical experience of caring for endangered animals in our zoos. Vitally, our conservation interventions are low-cost and high impact.
As individuals we have the ability to make change, but we need your help. At this crucial moment for our planet, I invite each of you to make a transformative change for the future of our shared planet.
Visit zsl.org to learn more about how you can support us as we create a world where wildlife thrives.
James Wren is the ZSL Executive Director of Fundraising and Engagement.
Photo of Mushroom coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) with popcorn shrimp by Wolfgang Krutz
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