Update 1234 OFFICIAL COVID-19 figures for 07•06•2020
There were two new cases registered in Malta, following 905 swab tests carried in the previous 24 hours. No new recovery cases were registered. The total number of active cases now is 24.
Updated 1155 Largest economic stimulus plan ever seen by this country to be revealed tomorrow – PM Abela
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that tomorrow evening Government will reveal “the largest economic stimulus plan ever seen by this country”, which was possible solely because Malta never went into full lockdown. This package, insisted the PM, will strengthen and incentivise Maltese and Gozitan businesses. “It will stimulate consumption and employment”.
Among the incentives, Abela hinted that there will be incentives to encourage people to dine out and spend weekend breaks in Maltese and Gozitan hotels. Government is also intent at rewarding businesses that had invested further during these challenging times.
However, timesofmalta.com reports that the he government has scrapped plans for a mini-budget to announce new measures to boost economic recovery but will instead announce its measures in a statement by the PM. It said that these measures will be debated in Parliament on Wednesday.
Updated 1111 Health issues protocol for safe operation of childcare centres
The Health Department has requested childcare centre to limit the number of children to one child per six square metres. Children and accompanying parents or guardians will have their temperature examined outside of the centre, with the latter being requested to refuse entry in case of apparent sickness.
No baby carriers, pushchairs, toys and other non-essential belongings will be allowed.
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Malta today celebrates is-Sette Giugno, one of its national holidays, a remembrance of events in 1919, when following a number of riots by the Maltese population, British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing four people.
Covid-19 Update
Exactly three months ago, Malta registered its first coronavirus case, an Italian schoolgirl returning from holiday in Northern Italy. Health concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic continued to decrease with 13 people recovering yesterday, meaning that only 22 active cases remain. At this juncture, it is expected that the country’s attention will shift to the economic challenges that resulted from the social restrictions in the ensuing weeks. Hundreds of jobs have already been lost, while retail trade in Malta suffered the biggest drop in the European Union. 69 pilots were added to the JobsPlus register yesterday after they were made redundant by Malta’s national airline, Airmalta.
In this context, all eyes will now be on Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who is expected to announce a mini-budget tomorrow evening.
Business organisations and trade lobbies have pushed forward a number of proposals, which mostly focused on tax cuts, support for rental payments, and a reduction in energy bills. Government has repeatedly said that its intention with tomorrow’s exercise will not limit itself to help businesses survive through the next months but to provide a launch pad for their future growth.
Sunday’s Newspaper Review
Malta Today reports that migrants aboard one of the Captain Morgan boats are staging a protest after suffering constant sea sickness for five weeks. The captain of the ship will steer the ship into the shore if the situation becomes dangerous.
The Sunday Times says that self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma may have deleted some of the secret recordings he had made. Europol experts discovered audio files on his computers that he had not originally given to investigators.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to sources close to the Caruana Galizia investigation who revealed that allegations made by state witness Melvin Theuma implicating former police Assistant Commissioner are not being investigated.
Kulħadd leads with the unanimous backing by parliament of Joseph Camilleri as the new Electoral Commission Principal. The outgoing Principal, Joseph Church, has been in the role since 2014.
It-Torċa announces a collaboration between the General Workers Union and MEP Josianne Cutajar to formulate measures for workers after the pandemic. GWU secretary general Josef Bugeja said that changes c=should be made in employment methods not rights.
Il-Mument follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia by L-Orizzont Journalist Matthew Charles Zammit. Delia said that people’s difficulties need to be overcome with politics of persuasion not arrogance.
The Sunday Times says that half of Air Malta’s pilots received an email on Friday night informing them that they were being made redundant. A pilot told the paper that their union had indicated that talks with the company were being extended.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to government officials who said that Monday’s mini budget is unlikely to carry any raises in taxes, but the October budget may be expected to in order to repay for EU recovery loans.
Malta Today reveals that 18 cases of Covid-19 in May have been traced back to an ENT ward at Mater Dei. Hospital CEO Celia Falzon confirmed that a doctor had first contracted the disease and that an investigation has been launched.
Kulħadd quotes a Central Bank report which predicts that Malta’s economy will return to its pre-Covid levels by the end of next year. The paper says that the country is expected to complete its recovery before other EU members.
It-Torċa carries an analysis by government MP Joseph Muscat who said that the economy is expected to shrink by up to 11 percent of last year until a vaccine is developed for the coronavirus.
Il-Mument publishes a plan by the Nationalist Party to restructure the way it does politics. The paper says that the vision is based on four pillars and spread over 14 different policy clusters.
CDE News
