Updated 1240 – Covid-19 Update
Health authorities reported 187 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday following 3,879 swab tests in the past 24 hours.
The virus claimed the lives of two persons, a 79-year-old woman and a 91-year-old man, the 244th victim since the onset of the pandemic.
The number of active cases stands at 2,831 after 189 recovered.
The health authorities said that 14,276 vaccine doses were administered until yesterday.
Updated 1230
Bernard Grech announces new Shadow team
Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has announced his new Shadow Cabinet, with most senior members of the party retaining their current post.
Among the primary movers, Claudio Grech is handed responsibility for party political transformation and innovation, while Karol Aquilina takes over justice from Jason Azzopardi. The latter is however given another strong portolio covering jobs, training, competitiveness and industrial relations instead.
Therese Comodini Cachia is made responsible for human rights, good governance and rule of law.
Party stalwarts such as Beppe Fenech Adami, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Robert Arrigo retained their responsibility for home affairs, foreign affairs and tourism respectively. Stephen Spiteri managed to hold on the health portfolio after indications that he strongly opposed Grech’s original decision to restrict his brief to mental health.
Updated 1130
NSO shows higher prices for food, but inflation stable
In December 2020, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), remained at a constant rate of 0.2 per cent the NSO said today. Low inflation rates have dominated the scene throughout 2020 with business activity levels suffering a significant hit with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The twelve-month moving average rate for December stood at 0.8 per cent. he largest upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index, which the NSO attributed to higher prices for fruit. The largest downward impact was recorded in the Clothing and Footwear Index
Updated 1050 – MP Claudio Grech to head PN policy transformation
Timesofmalta.com reveals that MP Claudio Grech is expected to be put in charge of PN policy transformation, innovation and the electoral programme, having to date shadowed economic services.
Robert Arrigo and Stephen Spiteri are expected to retain respective responsibility for tourism and health in the shadow cabinet, according to latest reports from the PN about a reshuffle by Opposition leader Bernard Grech.
The reshuffle is expected to be finalised by the end of the week.
€32.8 million investment to establish an international research hub at MCAST
The newly built MCAST Resource Centre is expected to open its doors to staff and students by the new academic year in October.
In a statement, Government said that the Resource Centre is part of a €32.8 million European Union co-funded project and the college’s strategic plan for vocational education, research and campus facilities that will continue to establish the college as a centre of excellence. The state-of-the-art centre, which includes a new library, flexible learning spaces and an auditorium, will heighten the college’s drive in research and innovation.
Updated 0845 – Newspaper Review
The Times says that PN Leader Bernard Grech is holding one-to-one meetings with his parliamentary group member ahead of an expected reshuffle in the shadow cabinet. New responsibilities will be announced by the end of the week.
Malta Today says that members of the PN local committees in the 2nd District have threatened to resign en masse after learning that party leader Bernard Grech intends to remove Stephen Spiteri from opposition health spokesperson.
The Independent quotes survey findings by the European Investment Bank which finds that 88 percent of people in Malta favour stricter rules to combat climate change, registering the highest rate of support for government measures in the EU.
L-Orizzont covers a meeting between the General Workers Union and One Group discussing the constitutional case that could lead to the closure of political party stations. The union said the case puts the employment of its members at risk.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who warned that the rental situation is “a ticking time-bomb” and many people risk losing their homes if landlords decide to initiate court cases against their tenants. He urged the government to come up with fair proposals.
The Times reports that private clinics administering the Covid-19 rapid test are not required to inform health authorities if results return positive, leaving it up to patients themselves to request an appointment for the official swab test.
L-Orizzont quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that nearly four in every ten Covid-19 patients who were put on the ventilator succumbed to the virus. The highest number of fatalities were registered in the final quarter of 2020.
Malta Today follows the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech on Tuesday. A report by three psychologists gave advice as to whether self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma can continue testifying but, by court order, the conclusions cannot be made public.
The Independent says that Gavin Gulia, who stepped down from tourism authority chairman before taking the oath of office last week, will not be automatically reinstated following his sudden resignation as MP but will face grilling in parliament first.
In-Nazzjon says that PN secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech filed a Broadcasting Authority complaint against TVM for failing to report the court sitting in the case against the Vitals deal. Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat testified in the last sitting on Monday.
L-Orizzont carries an interview with Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia who said that the government is committing to reducing cars from town centres.
Morning Briefing
Vast majority of Maltese will take vaccine – survey
The vast majority of Maltese would take the coronavirus vaccine as soon as it was available to them. According to a Eurobarometer survey, Malta registered the highest number of people in Europe who are eager to take the coronavirus vaccine with 41% saying they would take it as soon as possible while 5% said that they do not know whether they would take it or not.
45% of the respondents in Malta cited the fact that some people have already been vaccinated, that the vaccine works and there are no side-effects as a reason for getting the vaccine. Almost nine in ten or 87% of the respondents in Malta said the European Union is playing a key role in ensuring access to the vaccine in the country with only 3% disagreeing and 6% saying they do not know.
PN Shadow Cabinet reshuffle still underway
Various sections of the media report that PN leader Bernard Grech is facing stiff internal opposition on some of his proposed changes for the PN Shadow Cabinet.
Particularly, Grech seems intent in reducing Stephen Spiteri’s portfolio from health to mental health, a move which drew the ire not only of the MP himself but of the second district committees.
Reports indicate that MP Jason Azzopardi is to be moved from justice to work and competitiveness, while Robert Arrigo is also expected to be stripped of his tourism portfolio. It is yet unclear whether former leader Adrian Delia will go back on his decision not to accept any position in the Shadow Cabinet.
Covid-19 update
The Health Department reported 200 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, with 148 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 2,835. 3,481 swab tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 has reached 242. 13,002 vaccine doses were administered until Monday.
CDE News
