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Day: 14 April 2022

Will 2022 be the year of Covid reinfections?

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/04/2022

Prince Albert is among 5.3% of Monaco’s population that have contracted Covid twice, according to a new report by IMSEE that also shows 26.6% of residents have tested positive for the virus at some point since the pandemic began.

Statistics body IMSEE has been charged with monitoring the Covid situation in Monaco for around a year now.

Its latest monthly report released on Thursday shows that of the 10,757 cases of Covid as of 31st March 2022, 573 cases were recontaminations. The number of recontaminations is also increasing, with 12.1% of cases in March, compared to 8.5% in February 2022.

Meanwhile, by the end of March, 472 residents were hospitalised in the Principality since the pandemic began, as well as 61 in intensive care. The average length of hospital stay was 12.7 days overall, and 11.5 days for patients who did not stay in intensive care.

In total, 54 (now 55) residents who have tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Monaco. This includes 26 men and 28 women, with a median age of 84.3 years. More than two thirds of the deceased residents were 80 years and over.

The report shows that in the first quarter of 2022, 5,590 residents were infected with Covid-19, more than 2020 and 2021 combined in just three months.

According to IMSEE, each year the average age of those infected is falling, from 46.2 years old in 2020 to 37.6 years old in 2022.

Contamination (incidence rate) among those aged six to 18 peaked at 6,024 on 24th January, compared to 178 on 1st November 2021. It then fell back to around 700 in mid-February before rising again to peak at 3,101 on 24th March and has been falling ever since, although it still remains higher than the global rate.

Currently, 71.7% of the resident population aged 12 and over have received a full vaccination schedule.

SEE ALSO: 

Prince Albert tests positive for Covid, again

 

 

 

Photo source: Monaco Life

 

 

 

 

ASM match preview: Clement sets sights on Champions League

by: Luke Entwistle
14/04/2022

“Everything is still possible.” Philippe Clement’s defiant statement in Wednesday’s press conference ahead of AS Monaco’s clash against Rennes left no room for misinterpretation: Champions League is the objective.

Clement did caveat that statement, by stating the obvious – they aren’t in the running for the title. PSG have that well wrapped up. The declaration would have raised eyebrows had it been made just a couple of weeks earlier. But three consecutive victories, only their second such streak in the French Championship this season, has allowed Clement and the rest of the club to re-evaluate what is possible, and set those sights higher once more.

Champions League has always been the stated objective since the beginning of the season. However, following defeat against Strasbourg in mid-March even the Europa Conference looked out of reach. That six point gap has been reduced to just one, whilst even the Champions League is now a mere five points away, the custodian of that much-coveted third position? Friday’s opponent Rennes.

In the wake of Monaco’s aggregate defeat against Braga in the Europa League, Clement told Monaco Life that there remained “10 finals” between then and the end of the season. It is impossible to understate the importance of their victories in the first three of those, but as Monaco look to win four on the bounce in Ligue 1 for the first time this season, the Principality side’s position in the chase remains precarious, with a handful of rivals ready to pounce should they slip-up.

As Clement reminded us, “there are lots of possible scenarios for lots of teams.” If they are to reach their objectives, they will have to do so the hard way, by beating direct competitors. “We need to be focused and carry out a big match over there.”

According to Clement, the “good dynamic” within the group preceded Monaco’s victory against PSG in late March, but it is true that that positive mood has intensified within the camp, as Clement continues to create a “family” atmosphere, an objective that he has prioritised since his arrival on Le Rocher.

Recently, that has manifested in a variety of team-building activities such as a team barbecue and paintball. “The more you do things together off the pitch, the more you do together on it,” said Clement. The Belgian continued, “I want to create a family, so that we can experience something special together.”

An important member of that family, who could be pivotal in the run-in, is Kevin Volland, who is feeling back to his best after being dogged by injury since the start of the season. Clement told Monaco Life on Sunday that, “He (Volland) is as lively as I’ve seen him since our time together. He has had issues with his ankle, but that is better now.”

On Wednesday, Clement added that Volland had received an injection over the international break, which has “liberated him.” Clement doesn’t underestimate the value of a fit and firing Volland. “If he’s fit, that can change a lot of things for the team, because he can still be very dangerous.”

There can be no allusions about the difficulty of the task facing Clement’s side on Friday night, but an increasingly fit, close-knit and confident squad can only be a positive as Monaco head into this critical period of games.

 

 

 

MEB celebrates 40th Meeting of Members at GA

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/04/2022

The Monaco Economic Board held their General Assembly Meeting this week, taking a look at 2021 in review and the prospects for this year, as well as celebrating their 40th Meeting of Members. 

Monday was a big day for the Monaco Economic Board. The Yacht Club of Monaco was the scene for their annual General Assembly Meeting, where Minister of State Pierre Dartout was in attendance, as well as a 300-person strong gathering for the 40th Meeting of Members.

The General Assembly featured Executive Director General Guillaume Rose and his deputy Justin Highman speaking about the accomplishments of last year, despite the pandemic. The rise of hybrid and virtual events allowed business-as-usual to carry on in many cases, opening doors to future events held this way, despite restrictions being lifted.

In 2021, the MEB held e-missions to India and MEBinaires dedicated to business destinations in collaboration with the diplomatic and consular corps of Monaco. They also dedicated meetings to Africa, in partnership with the Monegasque Entrepreneurs Club in Africa and those centred-on tourism and the importance of female business leaders.

As the year wore on, more opportunities for face-to-face meetings arose including conferences and economic missions, notably to Florence and Antwerp, together with operations to attract business to the Principality in Dubai, Madrid, Milan, Naples and London, as well as during the Monaco Yacht Show, during the CleanEquity conference and at the Monaco Business fair. 

Looking ahead in 2022, there is plenty in store. A delegation from Vietnam is expected on 4th May, another from Djibouti on 9th May, and on 13th June, the Conference of the Presidents of the Parliaments of Small European States is being held.

On 20th June, the MEB will hold a conference with the Director of IMSEE, Monaco’s official statistics agency, Alexandre Bubbio and Chief Economist of Allianz Ludovic Subran.  

The 40th MEB General Assembly Meeting at the Monaco Yacht Club

The next missions abroad will take the MEB to Montreal and Toronto from 18th to 24th September, then to Madrid from 13th to 15th October. Trips to London and Paris are also expected later in the year.

The Monaco Economic Board has expanded of late, surpassing the 550-member mark, prompting President Michel Dotta to say, “It is very exciting for us and we will do everything to ensure that this dynamic and this great confidence that you place in us translates in the most concrete way possible for the prosperity of our country and yours.”

Minister of State Dartout rounded out the General Assembly meeting by highlighting the three objectives that the Principality should pursue to maintain its attractiveness, namely to know how to innovate, diversify its economy, and cultivate excellence.

After the General Assembly, over 300 economic players met for the 40th Meeting of Members at the Yacht Club.

After a presentation of new MEB projects for the year, two presentations by Claudia Batthyany, Project Manager of ‘Monaco, capital of advanced yachting’ and Marc Lionel Gatto, General Coordinator of myGlobalVillage, an international network dedicated to innovation of which the MEB is a member, the guests were invited to meet and develop their business networks.

 

 

Photos source: MEB

 

 

 

 

Further traffic disruptions due to works on Grand Ida

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/04/2022

More road closures are in store as work on the Grand Ida continues. Expect delays and possible rerouting for the next 10 days.  

Monaco is a city-state in motion. Major construction projects are part of the landscape, and with that comes a certain amount of disruption.

Following up on Monaco Life’s coverage of the traffic situation caused by the Testimonio II site, additional closures and delays can also be expected near the Grand Ida construction site.

Access for the future car park in the basement of the building, with the entrance leading to the Dorsale Tunnel, exiting from the one descending from Fontvieille, will require corresponding roads to be temporarily one-way, with the odd total closure. The total closures will only be when the work involves the shutdown of the smoke extraction systems in the tunnel.

Unlike many such projects, which carry out their work at night when there is less road traffic, this project will be carried out during the day as the noise and vibration pollution levels are such that it would be troublesome to the nearby residential buildings, Les Jardins d’Apolline and Hélios.

The government decided on this time period as the school holidays usually do not have the same road usage as usual.

Additionally, from now until 23rd April, a single traffic lane, between the Aureglia and Canton underground roundabouts, will be accessible alternately from 7am to 12pm on the downstream routes, heading to Menton, whereas from 12pm to 8pm, the upstream lane toward Nice will be open. This section of the Dorsale Tunnel will be closed in both directions at night.

The tunnel heading into Fontvieille will be closed entirely until 15th April. It will be fully closed again from Tuesday 19th April at 7:30am until 20th April at 4pm and from Thursday 21st April at 7:30am until 24th April at 9pm. 

Access to Fontvieille, both in and out, will be available by the Liason Marquet as well as by the tunnels that run under the Rock via Avenue du Port or towards the Boulevard Albert 1er.

The Grand Ida complex will be a combination of state and private housing, with a car park, a creche, a communal centre and collective living units, offices and shops. Scheduled delivery of the project is for the 4thquarter of 2023.

 

 

 

 

Asymptomatic Prince Albert tests positive for Covid, again

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/04/2022

The Palace has revealed that Prince Albert II has contracted Covid-19 for the second time, but insists he is asymptomatic and his health is “not a cause of any concern”.

On the eve of a trip to New York where he was to be honoured for his ocean conservation and sustainability efforts at the Stars of Stony Brook Gala event, Prince Albert II tested positive for Covid.

In a statement released by the Palace on Wednesday, they said, “He is asymptomatic and his state of health is not a cause of any concern. He continues to work remotely and remains in permanent contact with the members of his cabinet, his government as well as with his close collaborators.

“This period of isolation will be adapted to the health measures in force.”

The Prince will reportedly attend the scheduled event virtually, while his cousin, J.B. Kelly, will attend in his place.

It is unclear where Prince Albert contracted the virus.

In December 2020, the Sovereign told People he dealt with “moments of marked fatigue” after his first bout of Covid.

“There were times during the day when it just hit, but not like the kind of drowsiness you feel after a heavy meal. It was really just an experience of physical fatigue, like the kind that comes on when you’ve done too much or when you’re coming off an illness. This virus stays with you quite a while.”

Fatigue is not uncommon in people who have had the virus. It is one of the most commonly reported symptoms for those recovering from Covid-19.

 

 

 

Superyacht Chef Competition has a winner

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/04/2022

The Monaco Yacht Club’s Superyacht Chef Competition has found its champion in Nicolas Petit, the cuisinier for the 43-metre ship Latitude.

It was no cake walk for the competing chefs in the Monaco Yacht Club’s (YCM) Superyacht Chef Competition, held on 8th April at the Yacht Club.

The event, hosted under the aegis of La Belle Classe Academy training centre in conjunction with Bluewater, had a jury of tough nuts, led by Michelin star Chef Nicolas Sale of La Table de l’Espadon and Le Jardin de l’Espadon at the Hôtel Ritz Paris.

Fellow jurists included Benoît Nicolas, Didier Anies, Wendy Van Den Schrick and Jean-Claude Brugel. Between them, the judges have multiple prestigious ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ titles, giving them more than enough qualifications to judge the event.

Nine contestants gave it their all, each creating their own special dishes using only what was given to them in a mystery basket of ingredients. They were asked to use them all or risk being penalised under the new no-waste criteria.

In the end, it was Latitude’s head chef Nicolas Petit who walked away with the honours after serving his duck breast, mousseline of peas and black garlic, baby carrots in a duck jus followed by a tuile with pineapple roasted in rosemary.

Other chefs taking part in the competition included Joshua Kent of 65-metre White Rose of Drachs, Simon Cuel of 78-metre Hampshire II, Palmire Leblanc of 33-metre Dayboat, Marco Crispino of 50-metre Sibelle, Daniel Harding of 33-metre S, Alexandra Perez of 39.9-metre Ava II, Micail Swindells of 77-metre Go and Ivan Holmes of 38- metre Kjos.

After making it through the first three qualifying rounds of 40 minutes, Petit was pitted against Swindells and Holmes for the final.

Petit was humble about the win, saying, “It’s such a surprise and great recognition, I’m really overwhelmed. The most difficult part was managing the wait when you can see all the others cooking and you just want to get going.”

The Yacht Club saw this as a unique opportunity to spread their ecologically slanted word.

“It’s a special event that is all about sharing values that we hold dear at the Yacht Club de Monaco,” said YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.

“It is very much in line with Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting, an approach that aims to position the Principality as a destination synonymous with excellence in the luxury yachting sector.”

Monaco has long been advocating sensible, sustainable and environmentally friendly yachting practices, but in recent times has really pushed for those values to be spread throughout the industry.

The last Superyacht Chef Competition was held in 2019 and was won by Stephanie Gravier from the 73-metre Planet Nine. The next edition will be held in April 2023.