Ambassador for Belgium Isabelle Berro-Amadeï has been selected to replace Laurent Anselmi as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, as Anselmi takes over as Prince Albert II’s Cabinet Head.
The World Health Organisation has approved two new drugs to treat the Covid virus, including an existing arthritis medication. It comes as the organisation predicts that half of all Europeans will contract the Omicron variant.
Omicron has taken over, according to Hans Kluge, Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO). If current infection rates continue, the latest variant of the Covid virus is about to cause “an east to west tidal wave” which will sweep its way across the continent, he said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“At this rate, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts that more than 50% of the population in the region will be infected with Omicron in the next six to eight weeks,” Kluge warned reporters.
Of the 53 nations making up WHO’s European region, 50 of them had confirmed Omicron cases.
WHO went on to add that 26 of these countries were reporting that 1% of their populations were contracting Covid every week and that the region has seen more than seven million new cases in the first week of the new year alone.
Data collected from the past few weeks has confirmed Omicron is more transmissible and can infect even the vaccinated and those who previously had the virus, but, Klug stresses, “approved vaccines do continue to provide good protection against severe disease and death, including for Omicron.”
Meanwhile, WHO experts have found that two new drugs are effective in the fight against severe illness stemming from the disease. The first, an arthritis drug called baricitinib, used in conjunction with corticosteroids, has proved effective in lessening the need for severely affected patients to be on respirators as well as leading to better survival rates.
The second is a synthetic antibody treatment called Sotrovimab. This is for people with less serious cases, but who are still at risk for hospitalisation. This includes the elderly, those with chronic diseases such as diabetes or people with immunodeficiencies. Its effectiveness against Omicron is still unknown.
Only three other treatments for Covid have been given the green light by WHO since the approval of the use of inflammation-fighting corticosteroids in September 2020.
Arthritis drugs tocilizumab and sarilumab, which were endorsed in July, are IL-6 inhibitors that suppress an overreaction of the immune system to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Baricitinib is in a different class of drugs known as Janus kinase inhibitors, but it falls under the same guidelines as the IL-6 inhibitors.
“When both are available, choose one based on issues including cost and clinician experience,” guidelines recommend.
In September, Regeneron, another synthetic antibody treatment, was approved by WHO and guidelines say Sotrovimab can be used for the same kind of patients.
AS Monaco Basketball narrowly beat Bayern Munich 78-83 in an empty Audi Dome on Thursday. A 26-point haul from an on-form Mike James proved the difference.
The hall echoed with the sounds of squeaking trainers and bouncing basketballs, Germany’s latest Covid restrictions preventing anyone attending what was a tight contest in Bavaria. The important win puts them level on wins with the German side in the Euroleague, whilst it reignites hopes that they could yet clinch the all-important eight place that would see them qualify for next year’s competition.
James started imperiously and didn’t relent. His eight points in the opening 10 minutes, combined with some good work from Donatas Motiejunas, gave AS Monaco a slender first-quarter lead.
The game remained close in the second quarter, both teams matching each other blow for blow. James’ spectacular, on-the-buzzer three-pointer on the stroke of half-time sent Monaco into the dressing room with a healthy, but far from comfortable, five point lead.
Bayern quickly set about reducing the meagre deficit and five unreplied points from Deshaun Thomas restored parity soon after the break. There was no stopping James, however; the American point guard continued to impress registering points and assists almost at will.
Having narrowly edged each quarter, Monaco went into the fourth with an eight-point lead. Bayern applied the pressure early-on and incrementally reduced the gap between the sides. But that pressure dissipated when James registered yet another three-pointer to extend their lead back to over seven with just over a minute on the clock.
The lack of fans meant the game ended in muted fashion, but there is no underestimating the importance of the win. Roca team coach Sasa Obradovic said after the match, “This victory means a lot for us, for our confidence and for having faith in our game. We have really improved defensively, but there is still a margin for progression.”
The progress being shown can be attributed in part to the extended break that Monaco have recently had. The side’s two previous Euroleague matches have been postponed due to Covid cases, leaving Obradovic extra time to drill his players.
The Serbian manager will be hoping to build on their progress when they visit Nanterre in the Betclic Elite on Saturday.
Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball
AS Monaco face Clermont Foot on Sunday with Philippe Clement set to take charge at the Stade Louis II for the first time, as fans received some good news pre-match.
On Friday it was revealed that the club has received an exemption for the match, allowing them to welcome up to 5,000 fans at the Stade Louis II, rather than the 2,000 previously outlined in the latest government guidelines.
Those who attend will see Philippe Clement take charge of his first match in the Principality, having made his debut away to Nantes last Sunday. With the return of many players, affected by both injury and by Covid, Clement has some difficult decisions to make.
Monaco Life attended training at La Turbie on Friday and can reveal that after a lengthy absence, Cesc Fabregas is once again back in group training for the Principality side, but Clement later confirmed in the press conference that he won’t be ready for Sunday. Last week’s Covid absentees: Wissam Ben Yedder, Axel Disasi and Youssouf Fofana were also present. On their chances of playing against Clermont, Clement said, “I think they’ll be ready, but it’ll be difficult for them for the 90 minutes.”
AS Monaco are also still licking their wounds from last week’s fixture. The trio of Myron Boadu, Benoit Badiashile and Djibril Sidibe all went off injured and were not involved in training, nor was Aleksandr Golovin, who is still recovering from an abdominal injury. On their chances of playing on Sunday, Clement said, “Three of them are out (Boadu, Badiashile and Sidibe) and Golovin is doubtful, very doubtful.”
Clement told Monaco Life that the lack of fitness of some of his forward players could lead to him once again selecting Caio Henrique in the number 10 position. “I think at the moment we don’t have a number 10 used to playing as a playmaker. There are different players with different qualities, and we’re going to treat it match by match.”
Monaco come up against Clermont Foot at a good time, and they will be hoping to do the double over a side that they beat 3-1 earlier in the season. The side are winless in their last three matches, and sit just two points above the relegation zone.
Clermont are also considerably weakened by the absence of star striker and top scorer Mohamed Bayo, who is playing in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Guinean striker caused Monaco lots of problems in the reverse fixture, scoring the opener for his side.
The game kicks off at 3pm on Sunday at the Stade Louis II, and Clement will be hoping to build on last week’s steady start at Nantes.
Watch Friday’s training session here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYtpNM9lKUy/?utm_medium=copy_link
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
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