Updated 1745- Covid-19 Update
Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reported that the health authorities are concerned about a temperature probe used in the consignment of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which arrived over the weekend and are clarifying if the doses can be used.
MaltaToday reported that in January, 38,938 passengers travelled through Malta International Airport, a drop of 90.7% over last year
Newsbook reported that the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said that it will not accept that the cars of their members are clamped, when everyone knows about the current parking problems at Mater Dei. For this reason, said the union, it will be issuing directives to members.
TVM reported that Inclusion and Quality of Life Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said that by the end of March, 933 persons with disability and their care workers will be administered with the anti-Covid vaccine.
Updated 1330 – Covid-19 Update
New COVID-19 cases went up to 202 in the past 24 hours, the highest number of daily cases recorded this month.
These numbers were identified from 3,206 swab tests over the previous 24 hours.
Two more fatalities took the death tally at 284.
Updated 0850 – Newspaper Review
The Times follows the case in court about the privatisation of the three state hospitals. Former minister Konrad Mizzi was the main witness, but he refused to answer questions on the advice of his lawyer Carol Peralta.
L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who confirmed 31 cases of the Covid-19 variant first discovered in the UK. Asked about the variant found in South Africa, Prof. Gauci said no cases have been registered yet.
The Independent reports that former minister Konrad Mizzi read a short statement at the start of the court hearing about the Vitals deal on Monday. He said that the government Cabinet was involved in all decisions.
In-Nazzjon quotes Judge Francesco Depasquale, presiding over the Vitals hospital deal case, who reminded witness Konrad Mizzi that the right to refuse to answer extended to questions that may lead to self-incrimination.
The Times quotes a joint statement by a group of NGOs which are questioning the sustainability of a proposed Msida flyover. The organisations are urging authorities to rethink plans and focus more on cyclists and pedestrians.
The Independent follows the testimony of journalist Ivan Martin against Yorgen Fenech’s lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca. He said that they sought a press campaign to ‘undermine the credibility’ of state witness Melvin Theuma.
In-Nazzjon says that the UĦM is urging the government to reverse a directive demanding motorists aboard the Gozo ferry during Carnival weekend to stay in their cars throughout the trip. The union says the decision goes against the international maritime convention.
L-Orizzont says that a man was handed an eight-year jail term for forcing his son, aged seven at the time, to have sexual intercourse with a prostitute. The court heard that the father wanted to ensure the child was not gay.
Morning Briefing
Konrad Mizzi refuses to answer Vitals questions, points fingers at Cabinet
Former Minister Konrad Mizzi once again refused to answer any questions in Court about the controversial hospital deals, insisting that he head already given full disclosure to the relevant magisterial inquiry. Mizzi replied to every question with “I choose not to reply”.
However, Mizzi sought to point fingers at his former Cabinet colleagues. In a pre-prepared script, the former Energy Minister said that “I want to declare that cabinet had approved the project and it used to be regularly updated in detail about developments, the progress of negotiations and the progress of the works in the months and years that followed, both at the time of VGH and later when Steward were involved” Mizzi said.
An NAO investigation on project had described the whole process as grossly inadeguate, arguing that Vitals should not have been even allowed to bid for the hospitals.
Just under 100 human trafficking cases in two years
There were 96 known cases of human trafficking in 2018 and 2019, with the majority of victims found working in the hotel and accomodation industry.
This was revealed in Parliament by Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon.
Falzon said there were 48 cases in 2018 and 48 in 2019.
PBS to appeal John Bundy case sentence
The board of directors of the national broadcaster will be appealing the recent Industrial Tribunal sentence regarding the dismissal of former CEO John Bundy from the company. TVM reported that the Board of Directors were informed through legal advice that there was a strong case for appeal.
PBS said it was taking such action with respect of its role as a public broadaster which is partially financed by public funds.
Yorgen Fenech lawyers deny attempts to bribe ToM journalist
Lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Charles Mercieca, who are representing Yorgen Fenech, were charged with the attempted bribery of Times of Malta journalist Ivan Martin. They denied the charge of trying to hand money to Martin with the scope of getting him to write a series of stories seeking to undermine the credibility of state witness Melvin Theuma.
Martin testified that Caruana Curran tried to hand him two to four €500 notes. The pair argued that they had no bad intention but merely intended to pay for a service.
Covid-19 Update
137 new cases of coronavirus were reported yesterday, with 126 persons recovering. This means that active cases edge up again to 2,352. The cases were identified through 3,266 tests being carried out Sunday. No Covid-19 deaths were reported on Sunday, meaning the fatality tally remains unchanged at 282.
39,218 doses of the Covid-19 vaccination were given until Sunday, almost 25% of which being a second dose.
CDE News
