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Update

A year of Covid-19: what’s next?

In March 2020, Monaco was sealed off like the rest of the planet. Who would have imagined then that the
Covid-19 pandemic would still be disrupting the global economy and our lifestyles more than a year later?
And when will it be over?

On 17 March 2020 in a televised address, minorities, the elderly, people with disabilities,
Prince Albert II announced the confinement refugees and migrants.
of the country. The first victim of Covid-19 The world economy has been rocked.
died 10 days later. Unfortunately, there would According to the International Monetary
be many more. For more than a year now, the Fund (IMF), the pandemic will cut global GDP
world has been living to the rhythm of this by $22 billion between 2020 and 2025. Public
virus, first reported on 17 November 2019 in deficit is sky high in all countries, with states
the province of Wuhan in China, where the having to spend massively to manage the
(now famous) patient zero is said to have health crisis and limit the disastrous impact
contracted it; and then there are the deaths on the economy, as well as the income of
(2.8 million across the world and 30* in businesses and households: financial support
Monaco), testing and even the appearance schemes reached nearly $14 billion in 2020.
of new variants. For over a year, masked Vaccination: the great hope
populations across the world have alternated
© Manuel Vitali - Direction de la communication remote working and home schooling and noted Jean Castellini, analysing the fourth
In Monaco too, “the figures are not good,”
curfews and lockdowns, have switched to
have limited human contact. “Economies
quarter of 2020. The Minister of Finance and
Economy nevertheless remains positive: “A
have been disrupted and societies have been
shaken up. It is the most vulnerable who have
certain optimism can, all the same, drive us
forward. The Organisation for Economic Co-
suffered the most,” declared UN Secretary-
General, Antonio Guterres, referring to women,
operation and Development estimates that
Monaco Covid-19 Timeline

28 February 2020: the first case of contamination, a British resident 4 May 2020: gradual reopening of all shops with a series of health
returning from Lombardy, is confirmed. measures (except late-night establishments). For bars and restaurants,
cinemas and concert halls, as well as sports halls, it will be in June.
15 March 2020: closure of places open to the public, not essential to Most will then remain open.
the life of the country. The Rolex Masters is cancelled as will be all the
events (Grand Prix, Bal de la Rose, Monaco Yacht Show and so on). 29 October 2020: Monaco will not follow the second French
confinement, announces Prince Albert, in a new speech. Instead, a
16 March 2020: Minister of State, Serge Telle, tests positive, just before curfew is introduced from 8 pm to 6 am, as well as the extension of
Prince Albert II, who became the first head of state to suffer from the wearing of masks to the entire territory. Bars are closed.
Covid-19. A few months later, the President of the National Council,
Stéphane Valeri, and Archbishop Monsignor David will also be affected. End of December 2020: Monaco limits access to its restaurants to
only people residing or working in the Principality.
17 March 2020: speech by Prince Albert II reinforcing lockdown
measures, extended until 3 May. The country is sealed off like other January 2021: due to the deteriorating health situation, the government
nations across the planet. We applaud the caregivers, we dream of a tightens up health measures: restaurants are only open for lunch and
more ethical post-Covid-19 world, more respectful of the environment, the curfew is brought to 7 pm to contain the epidemic. The executive
in short, more human. announces the closure of sports halls and swimming pools and
encourages teleworking before making it compulsory.
19 March 2020: vote on the resolution of the National Council to
support the fight against the pandemic and support the population. 7 April 2021: The Principality counts 2,345 people affected by
The creation of the Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee will follow. Coronavirus since the start of the health crisis.

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