Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta says the 95-year old victim mauled to death by her grandson’s pet pitbulls at her Msida home last year would often lament she felt unsafe and constantly checked to make sure the door to the inner yard was locked.
MaltaToday reports the COVID-19 booster dose will gradually be available to the entire population from January, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Friday.
Newsbook reports that Former MP Franco Debono is one of three people nominated by the Nationalist Party to head the Broadcasting Authority which have been rejected by the prime minister.
TVM says that University students who are following one of the many courses offered by the Faculty of Wellbeing expressed their satisfaction that they have returned back to campus instead of following lessons online.
Covid-19 Update
Active cases shot up to 298 after 40 new cases were recorded on Friday. 13 persons have since recovered, leaving nine in hospital.
Booster jab to be given to everyone
Malta will be offering a COVID-19 booster shot “to everyone”, Health Minister Chris Fearne said this morning. Currently, the third jab is being given to all persons aged 70 and over, with over 60s being eligible in a month’s time. “From the first week of January we will start giving it to all those over 45 because we have made the decision to give the booster to everyone,” he said. (Times of Malta)
Six poachers arrested over illegal trapping
Six poachers were arrested over illegal trapping offences over the past week, while two more were convicted in court for similar offences yesterday, CABS said in a statement. CABS added that their field operations have led to the arrest of another six poachers and to the confiscation of 33 large unregistered clap-nets as well as 131 live finches – all of which were found on unregistered trapping sites. The NGO said that since mid-September it has reported a total of 60 cases of illegal trapping to the police who were able to identify at least 25 offenders and seize a total of 211 live birds. (Independent)
Morning Briefing
ECDC says Malta and Spain only countries ‘of very low concern’
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has placed Malta and Spain as the only two countries “of very low concern”. The assessment is based on case numbers, positivity rate, case rates among the over 65s, hospital admissions and death rates. “ECDC’s assessment of each country’s epidemiological situation is based on a composite score based on the absolute value and trend of five weekly COVID-19 epidemiological indicators,” the disease control agency said. Italy and Sweden, were deemed as being of “low concern”, while at the other extreme, four countries – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – are categorised being of “very high concern”. (Times of Malta)
Finance Minister says hospitality sector needs to pay better wages
Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said that business owners must offer better wages to their staff to tackle the “fundamental” issue of unavailable workers in the hospitality sector. Addressing a seminar on human resources in the catering industry, he said that despite the government’s continual effort to attract more people to the hospitality industry, as well as sustaining many people’s jobs during the pandemic through the wage supplement, if wages do not increase the industry will “keep going round in circles”. ACE (Association of Catering Establishments) president Reuben Buttigieg, noted that Malta’s hospitality said that “Malta has created this situation, it is our fault to some extent. (Independent)
Covid-19 Update: 37 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday and 17 patients recovered. Eight virus patients are receiving hospital treatment, including four in intensive care, the health authorities said
