Updated 1110
Some businesses to re-open on Monday, majority by end of month
“Today is a better day than yesterday, today we start the road to a new normality. Success will depend more than ever on the responsibility of the Maltese public”. PM Robert Abela said this while announcing that scientific evidence indicates that the authorities can start to reduce some of the restrictions, in a gradual manner”.
As from next Monday 4th May, a number of establishments will be allowed to re-open. Another decision will be taken in three weeks time so as to ensure that most businesses will be re-opened by the end of May. However, the airport will not be re-opened for the time being. Robert Abela explained that Government will continue to pay the wage supplement for the next two months even to those businesses who will be allowed to re-open.
Prime Minister Robert Abela said that our country and the rest of the word has passed through the worst times since World War II. “I am proud of my country and the way we have dealt with the crisis, both from a health perspective but also by taking care of our businesses and safeguarding employment”. He added that “I fully trust the Maltese population and in our health authorities”. The Prime Minister recalled some of the restrictive measures, saying that he understood that these implied sacrifices, but added that Government sought to find a balance not to create excessive suffering. These measures were timely and adopted according to scientific guidance: “Time proved me right and I am proud to have resisted a lockdown”. Abela said that the measures undertaken were highlighted by the WHO as best practice.
Deputy PM and Health Minister shared further details on the easing of restrictions. He said that this was possible because Malta’s reproductive factor of the virus continued to decrease. He said that these decisions will seek a delicate balance between health and economic requirements.
These decisions include:
1.All health centres will start providing vaccinations for children. This will include a new vaccination, details on which will be provided tomorrow. Also from tomorrow, cervical cancer screening will resume. CT Scans, MRIs and ultrasound and cardiology appointments will resume, together with other health services.
2. As from this Monday, a number of outlets will be allowed to re-open according to certain conditions. These include lotto booths, VRT testing, clothes’ shops, jewellery shops, bags and leather outlets, shops selling shoes, perfumeries and beauty services, home decor, souvenirs, discount stores, toys, hobbies, flowers and furniture. Anyone entering any open outlets will be asked to wear a mask. Social distancing requirements will continue to apply, with a two-metre distance between customers being required. Access to changing rooms will not be allowed.
3. For trips between Malta and Gozo, screening will continue to apply but restrictive measures will be eased, with a fixed number of travellers being allowed.
4. The Court’s registry will re-open.
5. Four people will be allowed to congregate together. Fearne said that while the authorities had no power to impose fines for people gathering in larger groups at home, this was dangerous as the virus was still around. He therefore recommended not to gather in such groups even in private locations. However, persons aged over 65 and vulnerable persons with indicated conditions have been asked to continue avoiding going out except for reasons of absolute necessity.
Hairdressers and beauty salons will not be allowed to re-open.
These measures will be assessed over the next three weeks, when further decisions will be taken.
Health Superintendent Prof Gauci said that more than 14,000 persons used the symptom checker app launched yesterday. She insisted that the importation of cases from abroad needed to be avoid at all costs and this is why the airport will not re-open this month.
She explained that the decisions announced by Chris Fearne were evidence based, and a rating system was established as part of a risk assessment process.
Updated 1002
Science and numbers to determine easing of restrictions – Fearne
Health Minister Chris Fearne said yesterday evening on Television Malta that “science and numbers will determine when restrictive measures will start being relax”. Once again, he hinted that the first measures to be relaxed would relate to health services that had to be postponed in view of the emerging crisis. However, he offered no hint about the relaxation of other measures. “We are in today’s positive situation because from the very beginning we abided by what science was telling us, and what the numbers were suggesting”.
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May kicks off with the traditional Workers’ Day remembrance, a celebration that assumes a different meaning for the many who have not been able to even be on their place of work for the past couple of months.
Government has indicated for the past five days – since Malta’s first ever zero-cases-count was registered (on Sunday) that plans for easing of restrictions were in the pipeline, with social partners being provided a first glimpse on Wednesday. So far, however, nothing has been made public.
As of yesterday, Malta had registered 465 total cases of coronavirus, but 351 have since recovered. In consideration that four have passed away, the number of active cases stands at 110.
More people fined
18 persons were each fined €100 yesterday during the continuous rounds Police are conducting to ensure that no gatherings involving more than 3 persons in public places occur, as per the legal notice issued by Government. In the meantime,
Three persons were found to have breached obligatory quarantine during the 393 inspections carried out in the last 24 hours.
CDE News
