NEWS

Around the world in seven stories…

HEALTHCARE MASK MANDATE ENFORCED FOR CARNIVAL SEASON IN NEW ORLEANS

AS CARNIVAL SEASON enters full swing in the ‘Big Easy’, the city of New Orleans has reinforced restrictions on indoor mask wearing to combat rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisation rates in the city. This comes as New Orleans registers a positivity rate of just under 32 percent and awaits the shipment of more testing equipment for residents.

During Carnival season, which officially commenced in early January, New Orleans receives approximately 1.4 million visitors who take to the streets in celebration, culminating in the parades and festivities of Mardi Gras. The New Orleans Health Department stated that, due to Carnival, the city was “at risk in a way that no other big city is” according to director Dr Jennifer Avegno. The restrictions apply to all indoor spaces across the city, including schools.

BUSINESS TRAVEL THE FLOATING CITY ENCOURAGES REMOTE WORKERS

AS VENICE SEEKS to diversify its economy away from tourism, a new platform named Venywhere is encouraging a generation of remote workers to choose the city for longer, work-based stays. The campaign seeks to re-energise Venice’s historic city centre with a new wave of skilled nomadic workers, as population levels have plummeted by over two thirds since the 1950s. The platform was launched by a non-profit fund in partnership with a local university and hopes to also entice corporate teams for medium term stays in the city that might spark start-up investments.

TRANSPORT SUMMER SLEEPER SERVICE FOR EUROPE’S MOST-LOVED CAPITALS

A SUSTAINABLE SLEEPER train is set to be launched for summer 2022, establishing a high-speed network between the most desirable cities across Europe. Connecting the capital cities of Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague, the ‘European Sleeper’ will operate a nightly service three days a week. Subject to demand, the schedule will be increased to a daily service.

The train has been conceived by a Dutch-Belgian company, who intends to launch more night trains in the future with a direct connection between Brussels and Warsaw. A carbon-conscious alternative to flying, the train produces 75 tonnes less in CO2 emissions, compared to the same journey by plane. Start dates are yet to be announced but are anticipated to be released in Spring 2022.