Live Update: Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Thursday 9th April 2020

Updated 1515

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri in a press conference this afternoon explained that recently announced measures to support businesses and employees are already at an advanced stage of implementation. These include deferral of taxes, salary supplements, quarantine leave payments, teleworking support and provision of liquidity. Schembri said that 12,885 applications for the wage supplement measure had already been received by Malta Enterprise, almost three-quarters of which coming from self-employment.

No new measures have been announced, but Schembri insisted that Government was monitoring the situation and would be addressing further support when this will be required.

Schembri said that government is processing almost 53,000 applications from full time employees and around 10,000 from part-timers. Regarding quarantine leave, 1112 applications on behalf of 2375 members of staff were received.

Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise said that the agency will send out a note to all employers to confirm that employees have been paid and that they are still employed with them. Failure of passing on these funds to employees will be considered a criminal offence. Malta Enterprise will be publishing the list of beneficiary companies. F

Updated 1249

1,018 swab were carried out yesterday, resulting in 38 new cases. Malta now has 337 positive cases.  25 cases concern women, including an expectant mother and a four-year old.

One of the persons worked at Piscopo Cash and Carry in Paola, and last reported to work on Monday 6th April. While risk to clients is minimal, shoppers visiting the outlet up to the indicated date are requested to call 111.

Another case concerns a carer who works in an old people’s home. All cases appear to be locally transmitted.

Prof Gauci said appealed to the general public not to gather together over Easter Weekend. “We will enjoy this celebration next year. Let’s protect our vulnerable ones. It is with a heavy heart that I announce these deaths to you, so please cooperate and stay safe”.

Updated 0835

The Ministry of Health has announced a second coronavirus-related death this morning, a 79-year-old who was being treated at Karen Grech Hospital.

The elder, who suffered from other conditions, had tested positive three days ago and passed away last night.

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Malta comes to terms this Maundy Thursday morning with the first live taken away by the pandemic on our islands.

After a relatively quite day with six new cases registered in the previous past 24 hours, Minister for Health Chris Health announced the first death in an evening conference. A 92-year Gozitan woman has become the first casualty to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Malta. The woman, died on Wednesday afternoon in Gozo hospital. She had underlying medical conditions including heart and kidney problems and diabetes.

On the positive side, speaking on Dissett, Fearne announced that 11 more people have fully recovered from the coronavirus after registering two negative results in 24 hours. This brings the total of recovered patients to 16 since the start of the pandemic early last month.

In the last 24 hours, a record number to swabs were carried out – 993 in all, on persons suspected of having Covid-19, with 6 resulting positive. Amongst these, there is a month-old infant.

More inspections

Four persons were each fined €100 after they were found in groups of more than three during the continuous rounds Police are conducting.

239 inspections have been conducted to ensure that quarantine was being observed with one person found in breach.