COVID-19: Measures extended until 18 April

The measures that have been in place since 11 January, and which were extended on 17 March 2021, are set to expire at midnight on Friday 2 April. Given the health situation, H.S.H. Prince Albert II has decided to extend all of the health measures currently in place. The beginning of the curfew will be pushed back one hour, so from 3 April, the curfew will run from 8 pm to 6 am. This decision is based on recommendations from the Prince’s Government developed in consultation with the National Council through the Joint Monitoring Committee.

Health situation is encouraging but not good enough

The health situation in the Principality indicates that the measures which have been put in place have slowed the spread of the virus. Specifically, the incidence rate has halved in two months.

In terms of hospital admissions, the figures are improving, although the number of patients being treated at Princess Grace Hospital remains high. On Thursday 1 April, 27 patients were hospitalised with COVID-19, seven of them in intensive care.

These figures are the result of the efforts made by each and every person over the last few weeks, and progress with the vaccination programme. As of today, more than 11,500 people have been vaccinated, which is more than 30% of the population living in the Principality. The Prince’s Government is continuing to implement the vaccination programme, which is now open to those aged 55+ who have expressed a wish to be vaccinated, and will then be expanded to other groups.

Changes to curfew

From Saturday 3 April, the curfew will therefore be reduced by one hour, and will run from 8 pm to 6 am. The rules on eating in restaurants and cafés at lunchtime remain in place: access is restricted to residents, employees and schoolchildren in the Principality, booking is mandatory, no more than six guests may be seated at one table, and service may only be offered between 11 am and 3 pm.

Teleworking remains mandatory in the public and private sectors, with the aim of reducing the number of people coming into the Principality from outside while ensuring that the economy continues to function.

Classes continue to be delivered in person

With regard to education, all schools remain open and will deliver classes in person next week.

On the subject of the spring holiday initially planned to begin on the evening of 22 April until the morning of Monday 10 May, the Minister of the Interior will tomorrow start a process of consultation with school leadership teams, teachers and parents’ associations to determine the best option, either:

- to synchronise the holiday schedule with that of the Nice Education Authority, meaning that the holiday would run from 12 to 26 April, at which point classes would be expected to resume in person.

- to keep the spring holiday dates as planned, with schools expected to function on an in-person basis until the afternoon of 22 April. Classes would then be expected to resume on Monday 10 May.

This consultation is essential because it is necessary to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of the two options and the consequences they would have. Discussions will also be held with the National Council. The aim of the Prince’s Government is to do everything possible to maintain the quality of education offered over the coming weeks in Monaco.

Don’t let down your guard

While the health situation is showing an encouraging trend, it still requires everyone to be attentive and take action. Now is not the time to let down our guard. On the eve of the Easter weekend, the health authorities reiterate that it is vital to remain vigilant in private settings, where more than half of infections occur during gatherings between friends and family. It is therefore necessary to act with utmost caution and to limit such gatherings as far as possible. It is absolutely vital to comply with barrier measures when spending time with family: more frequent hand washing, ventilating the room that you are in and avoiding sharing cutlery and glasses. Everyone must take precautions to protect themselves and others.

The Prince’s Government reserves the right to make changes to these measures as the health situation develops, in consultation with the National Council.