{"id":24745,"date":"2020-03-25T14:54:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T13:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/?p=24745"},"modified":"2022-11-28T21:47:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T20:47:05","slug":"prince-albert-reveals-his-experience-with-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2020\/03\/prince-albert-reveals-his-experience-with-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince Albert reveals his experience with coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the first head of state in the world testing positive for COVID-19, Prince Albert II of Monaco revealed this week the condition of his health and how the Principality continues to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.<\/strong> Confined to his private apartments, he gave two telephone interviews to RTL and Monaco Matin, assuring his symptoms are \u201cvery manageable\u201d and asking people “not to give in to panic or hysteria.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Some mild symptoms first appeared Sunday 14th<\/sup> March and, given his proximity to Minister of State Serge Telle, who had already been confirmed as positive with the virus, he decided to do a test. The result came back positive<\/a> three days later. Describing his current state the Prince, who previously suffered from\u00a0pneumonia,\u00a0told Monaco Matin<\/a> that “it is a kind of pre-flu state but it’s not really a serious flu. I cough a little bit but it’s not serious compared to what you can get if you have a bronchial infection. These are very manageable symptoms at the moment and I hope it doesn’t progress.”<\/p>\n

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Closely monitored by doctors\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

His medical team are closely monitoring him, but there is no formal course of treatment prescribed such as the experimental drug chloroquine. The Prince confirmed<\/a> that he has not suffered any loss of taste or smell, a symptom which appears in more serious cases of the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage, I have just been told to continue [taking] paracetamol, to take my temperature regularly as well as the oxygen saturation level in my blood, which can be done very easily with a small needle to the finger,\u201d reported<\/a> the sovereign. \u201cI still take a lot of vitamin C and natural supplements to strengthen my immune system. There are also some very good eucalyptus capsules to strengthen the lung resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Given the widespread media coverage of the tragic number of deaths the virus is causing, the sovereign wanted to reassure residents of his state. \u201cI am not in a hospital bed (touch wood),\u201d adding, \u201cI continue to work in a reasonable manner of course, I’m not going to do more than I have to, but you have to live as normally as possible even if you’re confined.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Working despite confinement\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Since the Head of State and one of the the government\u2019s most important ministers both are currently suffering from the virus, Prince Albert II was quick to assure that the Principality’s authorities remain stable. \u201cWe are not physically present on the ground, but that should be the case for everyone, since everyone should be confined,\u201d stated the sovereign, \u201cThere are no particular events that need to be presided over, so of course everyone’s responsibilities continue to be exercised, even if it’s confined to their office or their apartment. The other members of the government are well and are the ones who will represent the government this Thursday evening at the special session of the National Council.\u201d<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/palaismonaco\/posts\/3258481677497682<\/p>\n

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Whereas there are no other positive cases in the Prince\u2019s direct professional circle, he expects some to appear.<\/p>\n

In regard to the Princely family, the sovereign said that Princess Charlene and their two children do not present any symptoms of coronavirus. To limit the spread of COVID-19 even to his loved ones, the Prince has not seen his family since Sunday 14th<\/sup> March.<\/p>\n

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“The virus does not choose this or that category of people”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sovereign, wishing to remind Monaco’s young adult population that they must be responsible during this lockdown period, appealed to their sense of collective unity. \u201cThe virus does not choose this or that category of people. We’re all in this together. We must absolutely follow the recommendations and instructions, and all this is not insignificant. When we are healthy, we are able to resist the virus, but those who are in poor health are the most vulnerable. We have to think about them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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“I know that when we are young we want to be above all that and think we are invincible, but it can strike anyone, at any time.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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As an ex-Olympian, the Sovereign also displayed his hope<\/a> that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games would take place with an expected 2 or 3-month delay. Yesterday, it was confirmed that the International Olympic Committee had chosen to postpone the event by a year.<\/p>\n

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As of 25th March, it is estimated that one third of the global world population is now living under lockdown.<\/p>\n

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To follow live updates of the COVID-19 situation in Monaco, go to our live feed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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#Coronavirus<\/a> in #Monaco<\/a>: All updates in four languages \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa https:\/\/t.co\/QkRrn0htZv<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Wm6ZayKF17<\/a><\/p>\n

— Monaco Tribune in English (@MonacoTribuneEN) March 24, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n