Updated 1232
1,018 swab were carried out yesterday, resulting in 38 new cases. Malta now has 337 positive cases.
25 cases concern women, including an expectant mother and a four-year old.
One of the persons worked at Piscopo Cash and Carry in Paola, and last reported to work on Monday 6th April. While risk to clients is minimal, shoppers visiting the outlet up to the indicated date are requested to call 111.
Another case concerns a carer who works in an old people’s home. All cases appear to be locally transmitted.
Prof Gauci said appealed to the general public not to gather together over Easter Weekend. “We will enjoy this celebration next year. Let’s protect our vulnerable ones. It is with a heavy heart that I announce these deaths to you, so please cooperate and stay safe”.
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An 92-year-old Gozitan woman has become the first casualty to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Malta. The woman, died on Wednesday afternoon in Gozo hospital.
She had underlying medical conditions including heart and kidney problems and diabetes.
A visibly emotional Health Minister Chris Fearne expressed the government’s condolences, saying he was confirming the woman’s death with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile 11 more people have fully recovered from the coronavirus after registering two negative results in 24 hours.
This brings the total of recovered patients to 16 since the start of the pandemic early last month.
The 11 people will now spend two weeks in preventive quarantine as an additional precaution, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on TVM’s Dissett this evening.
Updated 1345
EU funding should show solidarity, leave no one behind – PN
The Nationalist Party turned its attention to EU funding in today’s Press Conference, calling for solidarity at a European level. Finance Shadow Minister Mario De Marco said that the EU became successful precisely because it worked hard to ensure no one was left behind. Therefore financial support was required not to incentivise growth but to ensure survival. De Marco also called on Government to identify those initiatives outlined in the EU budget for which Malta could request funding so as to support the country’s recovery once the crisis was over.
MEP Roberta Metsola insisted on social justice being central to the EU’s actions but strong decisions required all Member States to come together. Metsola said that MEPs were hard at work to ensure that no one faced this crisis alone.
Fellow MEP David Casa explained that measures at EU level were in the pipeline to ensure speedy access to funds. He said that the Maltese were seeking to ensure that funds were speedily available and can be accessed by local communities.
Updated 1244
One month old baby among six new cases
Six new cases were recorded today, included a month-old baby. Malta is now one case short 300 positive patients.
The baby contracted the virus from hospital and had first experienced cough and difficulty in breathing. No other babies from the same ward were infected.
The other cases concern an elderly Maltese man, a 40-year Maltese woman, a 56-year old health care worker and a 57-year old woman who tested positive during pre-op testing.
Of the new cases, only one appeared to be imported, a 52 year old Maltese man who returned to Malta from the United Kingdom last week.
Prof Gauci insisted that despite the significantly lower count indicated today, this should not give rise to a relaxation in one’s approach towards the virus and the indications given by the Authorities needed to be respected at all times.
Updated 1232
Family Minister Minister Michael Falzon explained that at least half the applications related to social benefits announced by Government have been paid out. Very few had so far applied for unemployment benefits.
His permanent secretary, Mark Musu, explained that government has already paid out in excess of a million euro in such benefits. More payments are expected to be made in the next days.
Updated 1015
Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said on Twitter that 993 swab tests were carried out yesterday. Dr Fearne expressed a heartfelt thanks to laboratory and testing staff for their efforts in this challenging time.
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Malta wakes in anticipation of what happens next as the coronavirus continues to spread around the islands. Although significant chunks of the population had already come to terms what it means to have a pandemic on our islands, yesterday’s sudden surge of 52 new cases has instilled a mix of fear and desolateness that we’re in this for much longer than we perhaps had hoped for.
Health Minister Chris Fearne, seemingly aware of the impact this number would have had on the public, insisted that the authorities were expecting to reach this stage at an earlier stage. “The fact that this development happened a few days later means that the measures introduced, in accordance with scientific evidence, are being observed properly by the people. The appeal remains that everyone should remain disciplined in their observance of the measures introduced with the aim that the situation remains under control and the health services in a position to keep up with the demand. Success depends on each and everyone of us.”
Although Fearne seemed to rule out any lock down at this stage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged any remaining Maltese nationals abroad to come back home by latest this Sunday.
Eight individuals fined
Eight persons were fined €100 each during the continuous patrols that the Police are doing to ensure that there are no groups of more than three individuals gathered in public places as per the legal notice issued by the government. No one was found breaking the mandatory quarantine during the 496 inspections carried out in the last 24 hours.
