Updated 1245- Covid-19 update
Malta registered 57 new cases and 134 recoveries on Friday. 3,327 swab tests were carried out.
During the last 24 hours, four patients died while Covid-19 positive.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that Malta’s COVID-19 vaccination programme will be brought forward by a couple of weeks because of the arrival of the Astra Zeneca jab on Sunday. Health authorities said today that 33,477 vaccine doses have been administered, 6,457 of which are second jabs.
In her weekly briefing, Health Superintendent Prof Charmaine Gauci said that there are currently 166 persons who are hospitalised with Covid-19 complications. She also said that the average age of patients was currently at 40.
Updated 1130 – Unemployment on the increase – NSO
At the end of 2020, the number of persons registering for work stood at 2,765, increasing by 1,123 when compared to the corresponding month in 2019. This was revealed in data published by the NSO this morning.
Data provided by Jobsplus for December 2020 indicate a year-on-year increase of 1,021 persons registering under Part I and an additional 102 persons registering under Part II of the unemployment
register.
The NSO said that registered unemployment levels increased across all age groups. Those registering for work for less than 21 weeks and those registering between 21 and 52 weeks, increased when compared to December 2019 levels.
The largest increase was recorded among persons who had been registering between 21 and 52 weeks. On the other hand, those who had been registering for work for more than one year, decreased when compared to the same month in 2019.
Updated 1100 – Investigation on PBS allegations rests on broadcaster – Minister
The decision whether to investigate allegations of misconduct brought to light during John Bundy’s industrial tribunal hearing rests with PBS, according to Minister Carmelo Abela said. Earlier this week, former PBS CEO John Bundy was awarded €226,000 from the Industrial Tribunal after winning an unfair dismissal claim filed against the public broadcaster.
Asked whether PBS had any intention of appealing the Industrial Tribunal’s decision, Abela said that the national broadcaster was still undecided on the course of action. “A decision by the current board, which has since changed, will be taken in the coming days.”
Updated 0845: Newspaper Review
The Times reports that former chief of staff Keith Schembri was interrogated by the police for two hours on Thursday. His lawyers said afterwards that he was no longer on bail, but the police confirmed that the probe is still ongoing.
L-Orizzont quotes official European statistics which show that retail sales in Malta in December grew by 3.3 percent from the previous year and by 2.6 percent from November, exceeding the EU average on both counts.
The Independent reveals that Malta has issued a European Investigation Order for the temporary transfer of Dutchman Julian Hofstra from an Amsterdam prison. The man is summoned to witness in the Caruana Galizia case and as a fraud suspect in another case.
In-Nazzjon reports on a meeting between PN Leader Bernard Grech and the Chamber of Commerce. Grech said that Malta’s economy needs to start preparing now for life after the pandemic.
L-Orizzont says that vulnerable persons will start receiving the coronavirus jab from next week, earlier than originally planned. Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that around 2,000 vaccines are being administered daily.
The Times quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be brought forward by two weeks with the expected arrival of the first batch of doses from AstraZeneca on Sunday.
In-Nazzjon says that a change in the monitoring process of the vaccine roll-out in the last days, has led to the waste of 50 doses. Health Minister Chris Fearne confirmed the occurrence during a press conference.
The Independent reports that an Iranian diplomat was convicted by Belgian authorities of masterminding an attempted attack at a conference in France in 2018. Maltese MP Mario Galea was due to deliver a speech at the event.
Morning Briefing
Police say Schembri investigation on Whatsapp chats not yet closed
The police on Thursday evening insisted that investigations into former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri’s whatsapp chats were still on going. The Force was reacting to a statement by Schembri’s lawyer, who had earlier said that the police bailw as lifted.
Schembri, former PM Muscat’s right hand man, was questioned by financial crime investigators for a couple of hours. His lawyer said that the questioning concerned chats “between my client and others”, which a number of sources have indicated as being Yorgen Fenech.
Education Ministry submits judicial letter against UPE
The Ministry for Education has submitted a judicial letter to the Law Courts in connection to directives issued by the UPE.
The Ministray said that it submitted an official letter to the First Hall of the Civil Court, saying that the directives issued by the UPE go against the agreement reached between the ministry and MUT.
“This agreement safeguards the education offered to children and students in our schools,” the ministry stated. “The Ministry continues to call for in-school learning and for this not to be hampered by actions that do no good in these circumstances.”
Covid-19 Update
The Health Department reported 79 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, with 144 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 2,545. 2,944 swab tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 has reached 273. 31,633 vaccine doses were administered until yesterday, of which 5,410 were 2nd doses.
CDE News
