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Month: January 2022

What’s new with the health pass from 10th January?

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/01/2022

The rules for health passes are changing, again. Via a ministerial decree dated 30th December, new regulations will come into effect on 10th January and impact several areas.

A total of 16 new articles have replaced the previous provisions, which came into force last July, and these will remain in effect until 28th February.

Article two recalls the different means of obtaining a valid health pass, either by proof of full vaccination, a negative PCR or antigen test not older than 24 hours, or a certificate of recovery with a six-month validity.

For adults under 65 years of age, a third dose is now required for the vaccination schedule to be recognised as complete from 15th January. Proof will be needed for travel between Monaco and any other country, as well as for access to eating establishments, events, the workplace or at sports centres in the Principality.

Proof can be in either paper or digital form.

Large events will have a new rule as well. The ministerial document states, “Anyone aged 16 or over is required to present one of the supporting documents in order to access an establishment, place or event welcoming a number of visitors or spectators at least equal to 300 people, to an establishment having an activity secondary musical entertainment, to an establishment having an activity of hairdressing salon, beauty institute, nail bar or tattoo parlour.” Without a health pass, access will be denied.

For smaller gatherings, the decision is left to the “person in charge of the establishment or place hosting a congress, trade fair or show activity to make access to this establishment or place subject to the presentation of one of the supporting documents in article 2 when their number is less than 300 persons.”

Staff at sports centres will now be required to have a health pass in order to work. This includes administrative staff as well as hands-on workers. Employees will be allowed to use paid leave until they are in compliance, and if they opt not to comply, they will no longer be allowed to work at the facility.

All visitors over the age of 12 years and two months must also present a health pass to gain entry to these establishments, including any association putting on a sports activity.

Finally, it was decided that working from home be mandatory for those who can do so until the end of January.

 

 

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

 

 

 

84 students test positive in new self-test initiative

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/01/2022

Covid continues to dominate as Monaco sees a record high incidence rate amidst a mass testing programme in schools and workplaces to try to slow the march of the virus as people return from the holiday break.

The new year has brought with it the same problems as the old year, with 36 new Covid cases recorded Monday and case incidence rate skyrocketing to 1,270 out of 100,000 inhabitants. Last week’s rate was 938.

On Monday, each student returned to the classroom to find a self-test for Covid on their desk, funded and provided by the Monaco government.

According to the Minister of State Pierre Dartout, out of 5,500 pupils tested, 84 returned a positive result. “Not all were residents, but the vast majority were,” he said in an interview with government channel Monaco Info.

The minister stressed that vaccination is the best way to combat serious illness from the virus and prevent unnecessary spreading of the disease. He is personally among those recovering from Covid, along with several members of his family who tested positive over the holiday period.

“The vaccine is the simplest way to prevent the risk of serious illness,” he said. “I am very happy I have had my vaccinations, to have benefitted from the third dose, and the same for my family.”

The government has also launched a testing programme for workers from 4th January. The screening campaign is voluntary but is being highly encouraged to break the chain of contamination.

50,000 self-tests are being made available to employers, free of charge and subject to availability, via the government’s public service website, https://service-public-entreprises.gouv.mc/. Only one test per employee is allowed, so verification of the number of employees will be required before the tests are released to an employer.

As of Monday, the Principality has recorded 5,289 Covid cases since the pandemic began, while 32 people are currently being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital, including 16 residents. Six other patients, including one resident, are in intensive care. The Home Monitoring Centre is following 348 people.

 

 

Photo by Stéphane Danna, Government Communication Department

 

 

 

January shows at the Princess Grace Theatre

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/01/2022

The Princess Grace Theatre has a fantastic line-up of plays this month, with pieces ranging from the Shakespeare classic Macbeth, to Noire, the woke true story of a young black girl in 1950’s America confronting racism head on.

To shake off the post-holiday blues, head to the Princess Grace Theatre to catch one, or more, of the amazing performances being offered in January.

First up is William Shakespeare’s tale Macbeth. The story charts the violent rise and tragic downfall of the Scottish warrior Macbeth, who believed he was destined to be king and was willing to murder to make it reality.

The play’s director, Geoffrey Lopez, says, “To say that a play written by the greatest playwright in history is timeless is to say little. Macbeth is a play about the human, the essential constitution of the human. It is a quest for immortality, a race forward that ends with nothing.”

Macbeth will be performed 6th January with the curtain going up at 8:30pm.

Next is Noire, written and performed by Tania de Montaigne. It is the true story of Claudette Colvin, a young black girl growing up in the American south in the 1950s. On 2nd March 1955, she refuses to give up her place on a bus to a white person and winds up pleading her case in front of a judge. Her colour, gender and her lack of money all conspire against her, though her courage is inspiring.

Noire will be played out on stage on 13th January with an 8:30pm start.

On 20th January at 8:30pm is A Love Story, written and directed by Alexis Michalik. It’s the tragic story of Katia and Justine. Justine wants a baby, and against Katia’s better judgement, she agrees. Days before being due to give birth, Justine disappears, leaving her alone with baby Jeanne. Twelve years later, Katia dies, leaving Jeanne with an unknown uncle whom she isn’t sure will want to take her in.

A Love Story (Une histoire d’amour) brings out all the motions of life. Loss, abandonment, love and mourning all blend to create a touching tale.

Finally, Who is Mr Schmitt? (Qui est Monsieur Schmitt?) Comes to the stage on 23rd January at 5pm. Mr. and Mrs. Aries are dining quietly in their apartment when the phone rings. At the end of the line, someone insists on speaking with a certain Mr. Schmitt, whom they had never heard of.

They soon discover that their apartment is not the same, that their books have been replaced, that the frames on the walls are not theirs and that they are wearing clothes they do not recognise. Even more terrifying, their front door is locked from the outside. But the couple’s nightmare has only just begun.  

For info and tickets call +377 93 25 32 27, email at spectateurs@tpgmonaco.mc or visit montecarloticket.com.

 

 

Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life 

 

 

 

Clement replaces Kovac in the Monaco dugout

by: Luke Entwistle
04/01/2022

It has been confirmed that Belgian manager Philippe Clement will replace Niko Kovac’s as AS Monaco manager, bringing an end to days of speculation.

The club announced late Monday that Clement has signed a three-season contract with the side, which will run until June 2024. Arriving in Monaco, he brings to an end an overwhelmingly successful spell in Belgium, during which he has won three consecutive league titles as well as the Belgian Super Cup in 2021.

Like Kovac, he also has a wealth of European experience, having contested 40 matches in European competitions, including having led Club Brugge in this season’s unsuccessful Champions League campaign.

Similar to Kovac, Clement asks for intensity in the press and is a forward-thinking coach. He is also a proponent of youth development, with the average of his lineups this season at 25.8 years, slightly higher than Monaco’s average of 24.7 years.

Clement was seemingly the number one choice for Sporting Director Paul Mitchell, as Monaco moved swiftly to acquire his services after the sacking of Kovac on Saturday. By Sunday, Clement was already on the scene as he watched his new side beat Quevilly-Rouen from the stands.

Mitchell was clearly delighted with his latest appointment, saying in a club statement: “His (Clement’s) ability to combine titles with the development of youth players has made him one of the most prominent coaches in Europe in recent years.” The Englishman clearly sees Clement as the man to continue Kovac’s project, adding, “We are convinced that the solid foundations we have been building over the past 18 months, combined with Philippe’s winning experience, modern leadership and ambitious mindset, will take our sporting project to the next level.”

Clement isn’t expect to speak publicly about the appointment until a press conference on Wednesday, but he did say on Twitter: “Looking forward to starting this new adventure with AS Monaco.”

Clement will be expected to hit the ground running. His new side are four points off second place in Ligue 1, but currently sit in sixth. Any losses would therefore see Monaco lose ground in what is an incredibly tight championship, bar PSG, who are running away with the title.

Given Clement’s European experience, he will also be expected to progress in the Europa League as well as in the Coupe de France. He will take charge of his first game this Sunday at Nantes, whilst his first home game will be on 16th January against Clermont Foot.

 

 

 

How Monaco supports the world’s poorest countries

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/01/2022

Monaco’s contribution to the developing world doubled in less than a decade to reach €22 million in 2020, according to a new report by IMSEE, and the Principality continues to give generously despite the global pandemic.

A new ‘Focus’ report by Monaco’s statistical agency IMSEE reveals that in the two-year period between 2018 and 2020, the Principality took part in around 150 projects, financing 90 partners in their role to aid developing nations in a time of need as well as to assist with these country’s longer term development goals.

Established in the 2000’s, Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a United Nations policy that allows countries like Monaco to support developing nations in the form of grants, thus preventing them from becoming over-indebted.

From 2011 to 2020, the amount of money dedicated to this kind of assistance doubled from roughly €11 million in 2011 to over €22 million in 2020. The steep rise in aid mainly started in 2015 with the adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda and, with the exception of a small -3.3% decrease in 2016, it has been on the rise since.

From 2018 to 2020, the Monegasque government mobilised €58.3 million for ODA, 81% managed by the DCI under the framework of the Strategic Cooperation Plan. The budget for the plan was raised by over 50% in these years compared to the previous three year plan from 2015 to 2017.

In real terms, this equates to about €500 per year per Monaco resident. Through this scheme, Monaco has provided concrete assistance to more than 2.4 million people around the world.

Health care takes up the largest portion of the budget at 32.2%, equalling €13.6 million and helping a million people. Food security projects are next at 20.1% of the budget, costing €8.5 million and positively affecting 1.2 million people. Education is close behind with 18.7% of aid going towards those purposes, then socio-economic integration with 18.2%. The remaining 10.8% goes towards the broadly titled “other” category, which includes help for job creation, civil protection, keeping vulnerable children safe, and fights against pandemics, amongst other things.

African nations are the primary receivers of this scheme and, for governmental purposes, they are sectioned into three zones. West Africa and the Sahara receive 44% of all aid, southern and East Africa get 29%, and the Maghreb and Mediterranean regions see 27%.  

The Covid crisis intensified troubles in many of these regions and, coupled with natural disasters and political conflicts, made emergency aid top of the list. A total of €3,077,383 in emergency funding was handed out in 2020, with Covid-related assistance taking the lion’s share at €2,937,383, or 95.5% of the total allotted. These monies were distributed to 82 partners to be dispersed as needed.

The victims of the Beirut explosion also benefitted, as did the people of Madagascar who suffered floods and mudslides, as well as the victims of the Albanian earthquake.

Exceptionally, and closer to home, the Monaco government also stepped up to assist those affected by Storm Alex in 2020, donating €4 million to the impacted area.

In all, Monaco’s financial assistance to developing countries and to those in need packs a big punch for a nation of just 39,511 people.

 

 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

Monaco’s Black Jack wins Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/01/2022

The gruelling 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was marked by strong winds and rough seas, but it was Monaco Yacht Club registered Black Jack that took home the title with a time of just over two days and 12 hours.

It wasn’t the fastest race time the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has ever clocked, but it was good enough to awards a prize after two days of brutal conditions. With its Monaco flag, Peter Harburg’s Black Jack was the first to cross the finish line in the notoriously tough event, winning with a time of two days, 12 hours, 37 minutes and 17 seconds.

Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since 1945, and supported by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the 2021 version put racers through their paces with relentless seas, shifting winds and strong opposing currents.

The course, which runs for 628 nautical miles (1,163 km) is traditionally hailed as one of the world’s hardest due to choppy seas, often accompanied by severe weather. This year’s race saw 36 of the 88 competitors forced to retire.

Benoit Falletti (Rolex Australia), Peter Harburg and Mark Bradford. Photo credit: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

In the slowest time since 2004, Black Jack had been in a three-way battle down Tasmania’s east coast beating out LawConnect, who came in second, and third place SHK Scallywag 100.

“It was tough in the beginning. The first 30 hours were pretty rugged,” Black Jack skipper Mark Bradford said. “We had a tough race with both the other (supermaxis). We dropped Scallywag at the end for a bit but she came back and LawConnect was right there the whole way.”

Black Jack Sail No: 525100, Owner: Peter Harburg, Skipper: Mark Bradford, Design: Reichel/Pugh 100. Photo credit: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Black Jack claimed line honours for the Sydney to Hobart back in 2009 under the name Alfa Romeo, finished fifth in the 2019 edition of the race, and came in a close second to Wild Oats XI in 2018, missing the top spot by a mere 28 minutes.

Owner Harburg was not on the boat this year, saying he would “let the crew do what they do best”, but greeted it at Constitution Dock in Hobart after their win.

 

Photo credit: Rolex/Andrea Francolini