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Day: 20 January 2022

National Council looks to a positive 2022

by: Luke Entwistle
20/01/2022

During his annual well wishes to the press, National Council President Stéphane Valeri gave an optimistic message for 2022, saying that “there are reasons to hope that we can gradually get back to a quasi-normal life.”

Speaking to the assembled press including Monaco Life in the National Council on Thursday, Valeri, flanked by Vice-President Brigitte Boconne-Pages and President of Finance and National Economy Commission Balthazar Seydoux, began by acknowledging the health context in which he was giving his speech, while looking forward to the year ahead.

“Firstly, let’s hope that this New Year is the end of Covid-19. I’m sure for everyone, including ourselves, that this will be the most shared wish. There are reasons to hope that after this last wave of a more contagious, but much less dangerous virus, that we can gradually get back to a quasi-normal life.”

Valeri said that the National Council would not be passive in ensuring that this was the case, adding that the Council has asked the Government to implement an information campaign to encourage vaccination in order to improve the Principality’s low uptake. “Let’s remember that, with a vaccination rate of 68%, we are not well placed,” said the National Council President.

He did, however, state the importance of respecting personal choice, saying, “We mustn’t stigmatise anyone. I have always been personally opposed to it. You don’t convince anyone by stigmatising. On the contrary, you risk radicalising choices and positions.”

According to Valeri, the National Council is largely happy with the management of the crisis and the way in which it has protected the population, workers and economic life. However, he did add that, “We can sometimes reproach the government for not having been sufficiently reactive, for not taking sufficient measures in real time.”

Valeri also set-out what was on the agenda for 2022, notably announcing nearly 600 new accommodations by the end of 2023, which will “mark the end of the housing shortage.”

The conference struck an undeniably optimistic tone, as Monaco progressively moves past the pandemic and looks to the future of 2022.

 

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

Government reactivates financial support measures

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/01/2022

Businesses that are suffering an economic loss under the fifth wave of the pandemic will once again receive assistance from the government.

The government had ceased its financial support plan because of the economic recovery seen in the fourth quarter of 2021.

However, much like the rest of the world, the highly-contagious Omicron variant has plunged the Principality back into a series of restrictive measures and, as a consequence, an economic downturn for some sectors.

“After an extensive consultation with professionals and the National Council, the Prince’s Government has decided to reactivate several economic aid and support measures already successfully implemented previously,” it said in a press statement Thursday. “The objective is to be able to support the operators strongly and durably affected in their activities at the start of 2022. This concerns in particular the sectors of events and tourism, catering and souvenir retail businesses.”

The support measures are effective immediately and are set to last until at least the end of February.

The Reinforced Temporary Total Unemployment (CTTR) system is renewed under the same conditions, namely a loss of 30% of turnover compared to the same period of 2019, for targeted business sectors.

The partial exemption from employer’s contributions is also reactivated for business owners whose turnover of less than five million euros has fallen at least 20% in January 2022 compared to the same period in 2020. Employers are also not allowed to fire an employee for one year, except for serious misconduct or incapacity.

Meanwhile, companies that have benefited from Economic Recovery Support Commission (CARE) aid in 2021 will be contacted by e-mail by the Covid19 Business Unit to provide an update on their situation. To be eligible, it will be necessary to demonstrate a 40% drop in turnover in January 2022 compared to January 2020.

“The Prince’s Government is continuing dialogue and regular consultation with all economic and social players, with the aim of constantly adapting support measures to the situation of businesses and employees in the Principality,” concluded the government in its statement.

 

SEE ALSO:

Mandatory work from home until at least end of January

 

 

Photo by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

 

 

 

Riviera airport saw higher traffic than expected in 2021

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2022

Nice Côte d’Azur airport ended 2021 with over 6.5 million passengers passing through, higher than expected and fuelled mainly by a strong summer season and the return of long-haul flights.  

Despite tough health measures, travel restrictions and fears of border closures, Nice Côte d’Azur welcomed intrepid travellers back with open arms last year.

The airport reports that 6.54 million commercial passengers passed through last year, a recovery rate of 45%. This was primarily obtained in the second half of the year when lockdown measures had been lifted and summer spawned a spate of travellers returning to the region.

Most of the visitors were domestic or from Schengen countries, which saw recovery rates of 69% and 39.8% respectively, but even the international routes improved, with nearly a quarter of long-haul traffic returning.

“This recovery of passenger traffic, and more specifically of long-haul flights, attests to how attractive our region is, and to the airlines’ and passengers’ confidence in the health and safety measures that have been implemented, and allows us to be optimistic for the year to come, as we already have a large number of destinations – particularly transatlantic ones – in our provisional flight programme for the 2022 summer season,” said Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.

During this same period, Nice Côte d’Azur has also reported a total bounce back of business flights to pre-pandemic levels.

Though the airport is delighted to be welcoming back more passengers, it is still hugely committed to doing so responsibly. The airport, which has been carbon neutral since 2016, gained the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation, level 4+, in 2021, signifying emission reductions that have dipped below neutral into the positive. This has been done with the help of plant-based carbon sinks near terminals as well as implementing innovations to reduce its carbon footprint, such as removing the gas heating in Terminal 1 and replacing it in autumn 2021 with a temperature water loop whose energy stems from the Metropole’s wastewater network, representing 700 tonnes of CO2 saved per year.

“Receiving the level 4+ Airport Carbon Accreditation isn’t a greenwashing operation. It represents the factual and international recognition of a sincere commitment and an ambitious and unprecedented action plan,” Mr Goldnadel explained. “When we reduce the absolute value of our direct emissions, we help to protect our region. This involves taking numerous actions, being innovative and looking for solutions that help to reconcile air transport with air quality requirements on a daily basis. In the future, low-emission airplanes will take off and land on totally neutral airports. This is the course of history, and we want to be the leading laboratory in this field.”

The airport is also looking to the future of aviation, encouraging the use of bio-fuels by major carriers, as was seen in the September Air France flight connecting Nice to Paris in a plane using 30% sustainable aviation fuel, a first on this scale.

Electric flights are also being experimented with in Nice, as was seen when Prince Albert II took an historic e-flight just a few days prior.

Finally, they have created the Urban Blue project, which works to design and implement the necessary infrastructures for developing e-VTOLs, electric vehicles that are able to transport passengers without using energy from fossil fuels.

 

 

 

Weekend Ski Report: 21st to 23rd January

by: Luke Entwistle
20/01/2022

It is expected to be another mild, sunny weekend at the region’s ski resorts with plenty of standing snow, while Valberg will be hosting a Monte-Carlo Rallye event on Friday.

Isola 2000 – There are currently 20 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at Isola. There is 70-55 cm of snow at the resort, however no further snow is expected over the weekend, and the snow canons are in full force. Similar to last week, it is forecast to be entirely sunny over the weekend. There will be highs of 6°C and lows of -6°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season. There is a local products market taking place at the resort on Saturday.

Auron – There are currently 22 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open at the resort and around 30cm of standing snow. It is expected to be entirely sunny over the weekend with highs of 6°C and lows of -5°C. There will also be winds of up to 28 km/h on Saturday. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed.

Les Deux Alpes – There is a large choice of runs at the resort with 79 ski slopes and 38 ski lifts currently open, and 50cm of soft standing snow. It is expected to be sunny throughout the weekend. Friday will be chilly with lows of -9°C and highs of 5°C. Saturday will also see the ninth edition of the night-time snow trail event, with a variety of trails available from 5-20 km.

La Colmiane – There are currently 10 ski slopes and five ski lifts open at the resort, with between 40 and 30cm of standing snow, the last falling on 27th December. As it is throughout the region, it is expected to be sunny over the weekend with winds of up to 51 km/h on Saturday. There will be highs of 5°C and lows of -6°C. The resort hasn’t reported any road closures.

Greolieres les Neiges – There is currently 40cm of artificial standing snow at the resort. It will be sunny throughout the weekend with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. The resort isn’t reporting any road closures. There are currently five ski lifts open.

Limone Piemonte – There are currently 16 runs open at the resort and 11 ski-lifts, with a minimum of 10cm of snow and a maximum of 45cm in places. The last snowfall at the resort was on 27th December. Visibility should be good throughout the weekend. It is expected to be sunny with lows of -4°C and highs of 8°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. Drivers must instead pass through Ventimiglia and the journey from Monaco is currently approximately three hours.

Valberg – There are 18 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open. The resort currently has 40cm of standing snow.  It is expected to be sunny all weekend with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Due to the Rallye Monte-Carlo, La Route de Guillaumes to Valberg, via Peone, will be closed on Friday. Guillaume, Peron, and Valberg will be hosting a special event for the rally, including 75 cars on two different runs, both of which happen on Friday.

 

 

Photo source: Snowy screenshot from Les Deux Alpes Webcam

 

 

 

Here’s this year’s Sainte Devote schedule  

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2022

The celebration of Sainte Devote, Monaco’s Patron Saint, will be held next week, and again this year the Principality is taking adapted measures to ensure the health and safety of all who wish to participate.

Sainte Devote, the 4th century Christian martyr, is celebrated every year on 27th January in the Principality.

Legend states that Devota, who was born in Corsica, was imprisoned and tortured for her faith by the Romans and after crushing her jaw and dragging her body over rocks and brambles, she was eventually killed by either being racked or stoned to death. 

After her death, she was placed on a boat that landed in Monaco, where she was duly buried in a plot near the chapel that now bears her name. Since her interment in Monaco, it is said that flowers bloom out of season to mark her 27th January burial.

In the 17th century, Honoré II declared Devote patroness of Monaco. In 1874, a more formalised tradition sprung up, securing her position with an annual celebration. The observance begins on the night of the 26thwith a boat being burned on a stake in front of the chapel with the Princely family in attendance. Fireworks then light up the sky of the port. 

On the 27th, a mass is then held at the Cathedral followed by a procession, with the participation of penitents of the Archconfraternity of Mercy, heads for the Prince’s Palace with the shrine containing relics, and escorted by the Prince’s Carabinieri.

Once at the Place du Palais, an Honour Guard and the Prince’s Carabinieri orchestra pay homage to her. The Princely family is then blessed using the relics, then the procession heads to the ramparts where the entire populace is blessed and finally the fishermen and the sea are blessed, ending the ceremony involving the relics.

This is how a normal year would play out, but again this year, there is no such luxury of being normal. Despite that, the celebrations will go on, just in a muted way.

Version 2022 will see only authorised people taking part in the relic reception, the procession, and the blessing at Sainte Devote Chapel. The public will not be able to access Place Sainte Devote during the ceremony.

The boat burning will take place, but this year it will be on the Quai Albert I’s north side and there will be no fireworks display after.

From 5:30pm on the 26th, the Quai Albert I will be accessed only through the gallery and only a hundred people will be allowed in the seated public area in order to stay in compliance with health measures, though a giant screen will be set up to allow the greatest number of people possible the chance to witness the event.

One hour before the 5:30pm cut-off, the reception area will be open to the public from the pedestrian crossing located at the corner of Boulevard Albert Ier and Rue Princesse Antoinette.

For reasons of public health, people will not be allowed to recover nails from the boat, as is usual tradition.

The train access near Sainte Devote will be closed from 5:30pm to pedestrian traffic, as well. To access the station, from or towards rue Grimaldi, the public is being asked to take the Galerie Sainte-Dévote. Additionally, the Sainte Dévote stairs will be closed from 5:30pm.

From 5:30pm to 7pm, the swimming pool road will be closed between Avenue JF Kennedy and the Jules Soccal wharf, and between 6:45pm and 7:45pm, occasional traffic cuts will be made on Boulevard Albert Ier and Avenue d’Ostende, to allow the event to run smoothly.

Slight delays will be expected in urban transport lines 1-2 and 6, and interurban transport lines 100 and 110, during the traffic cuts referred to above. With regard to public car parks, information will be given to users via posters affixed to the access terminals to the car parks.

 

 

Photo source: Government Communication Department

 

 

 

Government reports new Covid-related death

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2022

A 72-year-old has become the latest Covid victim in Monaco, and the third in just over a week.

The government revealed the fatality on Wednesday 19th January. It comes following the deaths of a 91-year-old resident and 100-year-old on 11th January. The total number of Covid-19 positive patients to die in the Principality since the pandemic began is 45.   

In addition to the death, there were another 98 new cases revealed on Wednesday, bringing the daily total under the three-digit mark in what is hopefully the start of a downward trend. There have been 7,041 people affected by the virus in Monaco all together.

As of Wednesday evening, there were 44 people under the care of Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG). Forty people, including 23 residents, are in a non-critical ward, whilst the final four, one resident included, are being treated in intensive care.

The Home Monitoring Centre is looking after 317 patients who have milder symptoms and are not in need of constant medical assistance.

The incidence rate in Monaco has stabilised for the first time since October, sitting this week at 1,953.