Updated 1745 – News Portal Briefing
The Times of Malta reports that enforcement of COVID-19 containment measures must increase, Prime Minister Robert Abela has told restaurants and hotel lobbyists.
Newsbook says that Malta will be seeking the European Commission’s approval to provide “substantial” amount of state aid to Air Malta in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri confirmed on Monday.
MaltaToday says that five workers at Wasteserv’s civic amenity site in Luqa have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the agency to shut all other facilities in Malta.
TVM says that during the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, the Prime Minister said that the next budget will not only address the pandemic situation that has adversely affected all sectors of the country, but will be a catalyst for the future.
Updated 1232 – 68 new cases take tally above 800
68 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the past 24 hours, while 14 persons have recovered. For the first time, the number of active cases has gone up to 820.
Update 1128 – Teachers join doctors in call for tougher Covid-19 actions
The Malta Union of Teachers has issued an ultimatum to Government to introduce new measures to control the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, warning that some schools will suffer a teacher shortage with an increasing number of educators in quarantine,
The MUT is giving Government time until Thursday to act through new measures and tougher enforcement. Doctors made a similar call earlier this morning, as reported below.
In a reaction Health Minister Chris Fearne told said that the authorities were not excluding more restrictive measures. “Nothing was off the table when it came to public health”, he said.
Update 1120 – Second Covid-19 death in less than 24 hours
A 67-year-old man has died with COVID-19, the Health Ministry said this morning. He was admitted to hospital on October 2 and tested positive on Sunday. The number of victims has now gone up to 43.
Another 67-year old has passed away yesterday.
Updated 0907 – Newspaper Review
L-Orizzont reports on the arraignment in court of a 35-year-old man charged with stalking and harassment of his former partner. The man is alleged to have sent the woman some 14,000 emails since April 2017.
The Times quotes the president of the Malta Institute of Accountants who said that the organisation is doubling down on members involved in inappropriate professional conduct and following up investigations with the Accountancy Board.
The Independent follows a political event by the PL and quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that the government is not planning to close the airport. Abela said that the tourism sector is vital to the economy and measures are being put in place to make travel safer.
L-Orizzont says that logistics companies are concerned about plans by the British government to set up new verification centres for goods coming in and out of the country. Drivers will no longer be able to travel to the UK with just their ID cards from the coming year.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who discussed the party’s pre-budget document in a TV interview. Grech said that the government had no economic plan other than making the few richer.
The Independent reports that 110 students from the University of Malta and MCAST are due to start their studies in foreign institutions as part of the Erasmus+ programme this semester, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The Times says that around one hundred people gathered in Miżieb on Sunday afternoon to protest the agreement about the management of the site signed between the government and the hunters’ lobby. Birdlife Malta said more protests are planned for the coming weeks.
More restrictions needed, ITU full-up, say doctors
“The Intensive Care Unit is nearly full up and will soon not be able to deal with the increasing number of serious cases, be they COVID-19, traffic accidents or any other disease”, the doctors’ association said this morning as they called for one last effort before the vaccine becomes available.
“Many more patients from younger age groups are being admitted to hospital with serious COVID-19 symptoms every day”, the MAM said, while insisting that the health authorities come up with an effective strategy and measures, similar to those in Spain, France and the UK, to bring the epidemic under control.
Morning Briefing
PM rules out closing airport, rejects calls for public health emergency
Closing the airport to stop the recent surge in coronavirus cases is not on the cards, Prime Minister Robert Abela declared on Sunday. Speaking during a Labour Party event, Abela said the airport would remain open but with increased safety measures.
“The way forward is not closing the airport, but safe travelling,” he said. Abela also rejected calls to declare a public health emergency, as he argued that this will only cause more panic and fear.
“Life cannot stop, and we have to learn to live with it. I understand that this is a new reality not only for Malta but for the whole world, but we must find other ways to continue living our lives in a safe manner,” he said.
The PM also discussed the Budget which will be launched today week, saying that this will be based on many important themes, however one of the main themes relates to protecting the young and the poor, Abela said.
Country is in economic and health crisis – PN leader
“The country is passing through an economic and health crisis and the first thing we need to do is strengthen economy”. PN leader Bernard Grech said this yesterday during an interview on NET TV, slamming government for basing the economy on quantity and consumption, adding that they built an economy on sand which is now being affected as the tides come in.
He said that the PN wants to extend the Wage Supplement until March, and urged that a masterplan for the economy be created and that the government not manage the economy by crisis. He said that people maynot have lost jobs, but lost hours of work, showing on books as being employed but with low take home pay.
Grech also tackled the latest controversy on the devolution of land to hunters in Miżieb and Aħrax. The newly-elected leader criticised the government for trying to hide the deal, and to create a wedge between the hudge and the general public.
“The balance we need to find is that everyone can enjoy public land. We know hunters go there to hunt, but know that a number of others go for recreation, to walk , enjoy nature. “Hiding things creates suspicion. Government signed the contract to avoid public scrutiny,”
Covid-19 Update
A 67-year-year-old man has become the 42nd victim of COVID-19 in Malta, and one of the youngest.
He passed away on Sunday at Mater Dei Hospital, where he was being treated in intensive care.
The Health Ministry’s daily bulletin reported that there were 95 new Covid-19 cases registered in the previous 24 hours. The total number of active cases is 768, in view of 30 recoveries reported in the past 24 hours.
CDE News
