Covid19 Update – 100 new COVID cases were detected between Saturday and Sunday. A further three patients died, meaning the virus death toll now stands at 282. The latest victims are two men aged 93 and 77 and a 77-year-old woman. They all died at Mater Dei Hospital. (Times of Malta / Health Authorities)
Gozitan Bishop speaks about life of unborn child The life of an unborn child cannot be considered to be the property of its parents, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma said on Sunday. Bishop Teuma was delivering a homily at the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, in a Mass which also saw him perform the Rite of Blessing of a Child in the Womb. The Bishop said that people often felt as though children could come at will, but experience showed otherwise: that a child is a gift from God. Newsbook.com.mt
Archbishop speaks on importance of hope – During this difficult period due to the unprecedented pandemic in our lifetime, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, invited the faithful to reflect on Sunday’s Gospel reading and not allow questions on the future to extinguish hope. Delivering a homily at the Church of St Bartholomew the Apostle in Ħal Tarxien, the Archbishop explained that for Catholics prayer is a form of dialogue with someone who loves a lot. He urged the faithful not to lose hope. Newsbook.com.mt
Update 1145 – Politics
Speech by Prime Minister -The Prime Minister Robert Abela has called on people to abide by COVID-19 mitigation measures ahead of carnival weekend. Abela was speaking during a Labour Party conference being held in Siggiewi. The PM called on people to not repeat the mistakes of the festive season, which saw a spike in COVID-19 cases in the weeks that followed. The PM said the government is set on continuing to raise standards in good governance and rule of law. He announced that eight new members of the judiciary will be added to the bench, with four new judges and four new magistrates. Abela said the investment will cost around €2 million. Maltatoday
Speech by PN Leader –
The Electrogas deal and the concession of three hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare benefits only “a select few” close to the Labour administration, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said. Speaking at a rally held in Birkirkara on Sunday, Grech stated that the health, energy, environment and financial services sectors are all weighed down by dubious deals penned by the Labour administration. He promised that a PN government would end “injustices suffered every day” because the government wishes to continue “stealing money from people’s pockets”. TimesofMalta
Updated 0900 Newspaper Review
The Sunday Times says that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat introduced businessman Yorgen Fenech to the former CEO of Italian oil giant Eni, Paolo Scaroni, about a possible investment in an energy project in 2019.
The Independent on Sunday reports that the courts have handed Steward Health Care a €5.5 million garnishee order following a lawsuit filed in London by one of the investors in the previous hospital operator, Vitals Global Healthcare.
Malta Today reveals details from an inquiry into a €400,000 car leasing agreement by former PBS CEO John Bundy, which found that he had ignored the advice of managers and violated the broadcaster’s procurement rules.
Illum speaks with property owners who disagree with protected rentals and say that they are at a disadvantage with their tenants. They argue that the pre-1995 rental laws breach the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights.
It-Torċa publishes an interview with Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis who defended the gender quota Bill and warned that there is no social justice without equality. The veteran MP said that social progress requires effort.
Il-Mument says that a ‘serious crisis’ has developed in the nursing sector as a third of foreign nurses have left Malta to pursue opportunities in the UK.
Kullħadd says that the right-hand man of PN Leader Bernard Grech, Ray Bezzina, held talks with Richard Caruana Curran, main advisor to the former party leader Eddie Fenech Adami.
Malta Today publishes survey results showing the Prime Minister’s approval ratings drop by 0.4 percentage points from January, falling to Robert Abela’s lowest ever score of 41.7 percent. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech gained 0.4 points to reach 35.1 percent.
The Sunday Times reports that the number of elderly persons who were hospitalised because of Covid-19 decreased by 80 percent since the start of the year. Health authorities told the paper that the vaccine is having an effect among the most vulnerable.
The Independent on Sunday reveals that PBS could be ordered to pay €10 million in pensions that were promised to former employees of Telemalta. The court has already decided the claimants’ way, but the state broadcaster has appealed the decision.
Illum says that if-Dar tal-Providenza turned down a donation of €500,000 presented by former opposition leader Adrian Delia on behalf of Catco Group, after the company refused to cooperate with auditors.
It-Torċa speaks to the spokesperson of the International Organisation for Migration, Safa Msehli, who said that some 800 people who were attempting to flee from Libya were intercepted by the country’s coast guard and taken back.
Il-Mument marks the birthday of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami who turns 87 today.
Morning Briefing
Dar tal-Providenza rejects Catco 500k donation
Id-Dar tal-Providenza said on Saturday that it was rejecting a donation of half a million euro from Catco Group. The charity organisaton said that it was informed by the audit firm it had appointed to carry out a due diligence on the donation that the chairman of the Group did not provide the relevant information requested from him as part of a verification process.
As a result, Id-Dar tal-Providenza, while appreciating this kind gesture, is “not in a position to receive the donation”.
Health Commissioner welcomes Malta proposal on study on level of immunity of Covid-19 vaccine
European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakids has welcomed the proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne on the need for the European Union to make a close study of the level of immunity created by the Covid-19 vaccine, which would enable the taking of joint decisions on the possibility of the need for a booster dose in the future.
In a statement, the Health Ministry explained that the European Commissioner made her declaration in correspondence with the Deputy Prime Minister, in reply to a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Fearne, who insisted that if studies show there is need for a third dose against Covid-19, the member states should again acquire consignments in a joint manner. In this way, our country will again be assured of enough doses for all Maltese and Gozitans.
Covid-19 Update
Coronavirus cases were above the three-digit mark again after a hiatus of a couple of days, with 134 new positive cases identified between Friday and Saturday. The cases were found from 2,772 swab tests, a lower number than the amount carried out on the previous two days.
The number of fatalities has edged up to 279, with two patients passing away over the same period.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister said yesterday that coronavirus vaccines bought from a specific manufacturer are being sold to the country at €28 per dose instead of €12 to ensure delivery. The finance minister explained that while certain manufacturers are selling the coronavirus vaccine at €12, Malta is paying more than double the price to ensure early delivery.
CDE News
