Times of Malta reports that the police had had seven reports of incidents involving the same contractor who was working on a site in Sta Venera last March when an adjoining house collapsed, killing resident Miriam Pace, a court heard on Thursday.
MaltaToday reports that Opposition leader Bernard Grech says Robert Abela cannot claim credit for developments in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case
Newsbook reports that Mater Dei intensive care and medical wards will soon be unable to cope with the caseloads said the Medical Association of Malta (MAM).
TVM reports that PN leader Bernard Grech says PN will support MFA’s strategy
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Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar resigns
Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar has tendered her resignation pending an investigation. She announced the move on Facebook, while denying all claims. She said she is doing so “out of respect for the Labour Party.”
She had been facing pressure intense scrutiny for her alleged links with Yorgen Fenech.
Updated 1430 – Doctors criticise easing of restrictions
Doctors have lamented the announcement that COVID-19 restrictions will be eased, insisting that Mater Dei hospital will “soon be unable to cope” with the number of patients with the virus. The Medical Association of Malta has claimed the last intensive care unit at the hospital “may soon need to be opened” to deal with the caseload.
In a statement, the MAM said that the measures announced before carnival holidays earlier this month “have proven to be completely inadequate” with a further rise in cases. The body described the latest decisions as populistic.
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Covid-19 update
The Health Department reported 192 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours,
with 185 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 2,508. 3,473 swab tests were
carried out in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 has reached 311. In the past 24 hours,
an 83-year-old woman and a 30-year-old woman died.
PM thanks Commissioner, police for their work in Daphne Caruana Galizia case
Prime Minister Robert Abela has hailed the arraignment of two men accused of supplying the bomb that
killed journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as evidence that there is rule of law in Malta.
However, the prime minister refused to be drawn on whether he could rule out political
involvement in the 2017 assassination.
He was reacting after Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were charged with complicity in the
murder and forming part of a criminal gang during a late night arraignment on Wednesday.
Vella was also charged with another murder – that of lawyer Carmel Chircop, who was
gunned down in a Birkirkara garage in 2015. A third man, Agius’ brother, Adrian, was
charged with masterminding that assassination.
Newspaper Review
The Malta Business Weekly publishes an interview with Chamber of Commerce Deputy President Marisa Xuereb who said that the pandemic has demonstrated the need to strengthen the manufacturing sector in Malta.
The Times quotes Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà who told the press that all suspects involved in the Caruana Galizia murder have been caught or are facing charges. He refused, however, to declare the case closed.
In-Nazzjon says that the police arraigned four men in connection with the killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017 and lawyer Carmel Chircop in 2015. The men were arrested following the admission in court by murder suspect Vince Muscat.
L-Orizzont reports that four people have been charged with the murder of Carmel Chircop, who was shot in Birkirkara in 2015. Two of the arraigned men are also believed to be involved in the Caruana Galizia assassination.
The Independent speaks to Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia who said that reforms in the construction sector are needed urgently. Reacting to concerns raised by the Chamber of Architects about a new Bill, he said that amendments will be considered at a later stage.
The Malta Business Weekly follows a press conference by the Health Minister who attributed the rise in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks to an increase in rapid testing and the spread of the UK variant of the virus.
The Times says that homes for the elderly that have reached a 90 percent Covid-19 vaccination rate will be allowed to remove the Perspex panels that have for months separated residents and visitors.
L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who announced that restaurants can extend their opening hours by an hour until midnight from March. Bars and clubs, however, will remain closed for now.
The Independent reports that people in the 75 to 80 age group will start receiving letters to receive the vaccine from next week. Health Minister Chris Fearne said vaccination for this cohort will be conducted in a staggered manner since it is a large group.
In-Nazzjon reports on a meeting between the PN and the Developers’ Association, the first in a series of consultation sessions about policy proposals for the energy sector announced by the party.
Morning Briefing
Four persons charged with Caruana Galizia, Chircop murders
Vince Muscat’s presidential pardon seemed to have the first implications by Wednesday evening with Robert Agius and Jamie Vella being charged with complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. At the same time, the same Vella, together with George Degiorgio, were also charged with the assassination of lawyer Carmel Chircop, a lawyer killed in 2015 in Birirkirkara. Adrian Agius, Robert’s brother, was charged with being a mastermind and an accomplice in the Chircop murder and financing the killing as well as of forming part of a gang.
In a press conference, Police commissioner Angelo Gafa’ declared that investigators believed all suspects in the murder have now been caught. Questioned about Vince Muscat’s protection, Gafa said he is in contact with the prison director, who assured him that the ncessary measures are being taken.
Covid-19 Restrictions on bars to be extended, those at homes for the elderly eased
Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that bars and band clubs will remain shut in March but some care homes will see measures relaxed due to the success of the vaccine. The Deputy PM added that Malta was “doing well” with its vaccine roll out. On the other hand, restaurants that had a curfew of 11pm in February, will have their opening hours extended to midnight. He also revealed that the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus made up 8% of all new Malta cases over the last week.
Fearne that in the homes for the elderly over 90% of the residents have received their second dose and ten days have lapsed for the vaccine to attain maximum immunity and therefore ”shielding” restrictions will be removed. This will mean that visits by relatives will be permitted once more as well as enabling the residents to mix with each other as a result of the positive success of this age group.
Covid-19 Update
Malta’s Covid-19 infection rate continues on its increasing trend with another 226 people tested positive for COVID-19 between Tuesday and Wednesday. 220 persons have since recovery. The numbers were identified through 2,273 swab tests. The number of active cases stands at 2,504.
In addition, two new deaths have taking the total fatality count to 308. The latest victims were aged 97 and 84 respectively.
