Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Wednesday 1st April 2020
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Updated 1530
Opposition presents plan to reduce energy prices
During a Press Conference at PN HQ this afternoon, the Nationalist Party once again called for a reduction of energy prices, including utilities, petrol and diesel. PN Deputy Leader David Agius explained that these proposals, outlined in a six-point plan, are financially reasonable in consideration of a significant drop in the international price of oil and gas.
Highlighting the fact that Malta was the only EU country where the price of fuel and diesel had not been revised downwards, the PN argued that in view of the significant drop in the international price, there was room for a 30 cent decrease in the current pump prices.
Updated 1233
19 new cases
In her daily briefing, Prof Charmaine Gauci announced that 19 new cases were identified in the past 24 hours, resulting from 627 swabs. These 19 patients are all in good condition.
Over the past two days Malta registered 32 cases, taking the tally to 188.
The majority of cases were locally transmitted.
One of the locally imported cases concerns a Lidl employee. Prof Gauci explained that while the necessary contact tracing is taking place, contact with members of the public was likely to be limited. However, shoppers visiting the Safi outlet after 26th March should contact 111 if they experience symptoms.
Regarding driving instructors, Prof Gauci remarked that discussions were ongoing to understand the risks involved in this case.
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The world faces the biggest challenge since World War II according to the United Nations as the global toll of cases exceeded 800,000. As numbers surge in most countries, restrictions continue to be the order of the day, as is the case in Malta. Yesterday, a new set of measures focused on travel between Malta and Gozo, which has now been limited to essential trips only, related to work, visiting family or medical purposes. Residents will be able to return home to their main residence.
Malta has 169 confirmed cases of coronavirus. While imported cases have started to decrease, community transmission has now become a regular feature of the new cases, leading the Authority to increase their appeals for the public to stay in as much as possible.
Six individuals fined €3,000 for breaking quarantine
The Authorities confirmed that eight persons were fined €100 each during the patrols that the Police is carrying out to ensure that there are no groups of more than 3 persons in public places, as per the legal notice issued by the government. Corp members, with vehicles, dogs, and horses were today seen patrolling the streets of different towns and villages, in the countryside, and close to the seashore. The Police is appealing to the public to do its part to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in order to observe the regulations in the interest of everyone’s wellbeing. Meanwhile in the last 24 hours, 471 inspections were carried out around Malta and Gozo. The Police, together with Department of Health and Civil Protection Department officials, found six individuals breaking the law and these were fined €3,000 each. Since the inspections started, the authorities have so far issued 49 fines for non-observance of mandatory quarantine.
We’ll keep you updated with developments throughout the day, as they happen.
