COVID-19: measures relaxed

COVID-19: 10 pm curfew, relaxation for restaurants and bars, swimming pools to open

The measures that have been in place since 11 January, and which were extended on 2 May 2021, are set to expire at midnight on Sunday 16 May. Given the health situation, H.S.H. S.A.S. le Prince Albert II has decided to extend all of the health measures currently in place until Sunday 30 May, but with some relaxations.

Firstly, the start of the curfew has been pushed back one hour. From 17 May, the curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Next, restaurants will be able to welcome employees and members of their households, bars and cafés will be allowed to open until 7 p.m. and swimming pools can open provided they comply with strict health protocols.

This decision is based on recommendations from the Prince’s Government developed in consultation with the National Council during a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Tuesday 11 May.

Health situation is encouraging but requires continued vigilance

The health situation in the Principality indicates that the virus is continuing on the downward trend that began to show a significant change from the end of March. Nonetheless, this slowing is much more gradual than the one we saw last autumn, so it is vital to remain vigilant. It has taken six weeks to bring the incidence rate down fourfold. The incidence rate for the week of 3–9 May was 57.4.

There has been a clear improvement in the hospital figures. On Thursday 13 May, two non-residents were being treated at Princess Grace Hospital, one 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, 14,860 people have been vaccinated, which is nearly 40% of the population living in the Principality. The Prince’s Government, which has recently received a fresh supply of Pfizer vaccine doses, is continuing to implement the vaccination programme, which is now open to those aged 45+ who have expressed a wish to be vaccinated, and will then be expanded to other groups. Thanks to the latest vaccine delivery, it will be possible to reach the goal of quickly vaccinating 48.5% of those residing in the Principality.

Relaxation for restaurants, bars and cafés 

From Monday 17 May, the following will apply:

• Restaurants

Due to the start of the curfew being pushed back, dinner service is extended by one hour and can be provided between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

For lunch and dinner, restaurants may only welcome guests who are Monegasque nationals or residents, and those staying at hotels in Monaco (proof of identity or hotel stay must be shown). They may also serve, for both lunch and dinner, people who work in Monaco and members of their families, who live under the same roof, as well as students and those who attend school in the Principality.

• Bars and cafés will be allowed to open for longer. Bars, snack bars, drinking establishments, ice-cream parlours, tea and coffee shops and establishments serving breakfast may now offer sit-in services between 6 am and 7 p.m., provided that customers are served at a table.
• Like restaurants, concert halls and the casino may once again welcome the public until 11 p.m.
• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools may open provided that they comply with a health protocol to be agreed with the Department of Health Affairs for each facility.
• On beaches, the requirement to wear a mask has been lifted provided that a minimum distance of 1.5 metres is maintained between people from different groups. Groups may be a maximum of six people.

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. The health authorities stress that we must all remain vigilant in private settings, where more than half of infections occur during gatherings between friends and family. A stronger step towards the resumption of activities must not lead to even the slightest relaxation of barrier measures. It is vital that each of us acts responsibly and takes precautions to protect ourselves 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.