COVID-19 pandemic in Monaco


The COVID-19 pandemic in Monaco is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached Monaco on 29 February 2020. With a population of 39,255, the infection rate as of 18 July is 1 case per 360 inhabitants.

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.

Timeline

February 2020

On 29 February, Monaco announced its first case, a man who was admitted to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre then transferred to Nice University Hospital in France.

March 2020

On 14 March, the Government ordered the closing of nurseries, gyms, parks, monuments and schools. Also, the Saint Patrick's concert was suspended.
On 16 March, Head of the Monegasque government Serge Telle became the first head of government tested positive for COVID-19.
On 17 March, for the first time in his reign, Albert II addressed the nation in a serious speech reporting on the strengthening of quarantine measures. Two days later Albert became the first head of state to test positive for coronavirus. He later denied suggestions that he had infected Charles, Prince of Wales at an event the two had attended in London on 10 March.
The Monaco Grand Prix was cancelled on 19 March after organisers were unable to rearrange a date for the race beyond the scheduled date of 24 May, marking the first time the event had not been run since 1954.
On 25 March, the Government announced that the number of people affected by the coronavirus had reached 31.