Live Updates Malta-24 – News Briefing – Tuesday 9th June 2020
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Updated 1408
During a press briefing this afternoon, the Minister of Finance, Edward Scicluna, went through the key measures announced yesterday evenings, including support related to wages, liquidity, rentals, energy tariffs and transport. He explained that consumption has dipped as the public has postponed major purchases and stayed away from making non-essential expenditure in view of the uncertainty the situation brought about. In this context, the new measures were intended to entice people to return to work and return to normality.
Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said that health and the economy are two sides of the same coin, explaining that the current data related to the health situation proved the authorities right in not going for a full lockdown. He argued that at one point people were requested to stay home, but the number of active cases has declined significantly thereby leading to an easing of restrictions.
Questioned whether these initiative were enough, Minister Scicluna insisted that Government sought a delicate balance between giving a timely boost to the economy while at the same time ensuring the health of Malta’s financial position.
Updated 1400
Two new cases of coronavirus in Malta, taking the country’s tally to 632, have been identified in the past 24 hours. With one person recovering, the number of active cases has increased to 26.
These two cases were found from 1152 swabs.
Malta’s economic regeneration plan was announced yesterday by Government during an evening Press Conference where Prime Minister Robert Abela celebrated the country’s success in defeating the coronavirus pandemic and promising a better tomorrow. Through a flurry of incentives and initiatives, Government hopes to revive Malta’s economic fortune after business in a number of sectors came to an almost complete halt over the past few months.
Among the widely anticipated measures, Government extended the wage supplement for the hardest-hit industries to September, halved energy bills for businesses for the next three months, and offered a 100 euro voucher to every citizen aged 16 and over that will be spent during this same time frame in hotels, restaurants and retail outlets which were forced to shut in the past month.
Businesses, which had long requested support in covering rental payments, will also be supported to this end, together with scrapping of licence fees payable to Malta’s regulatory authorities.
For a more comprehensive analysis of the initiatives announced yesterday as well as the reactions as they pour in, visit our dedicated page.
Earlier in the morning, the Health Ministry had announced that during the past 24 hours one new coronavirus case was identified, taking the country’s tally to 630. However, only 25 of these remain active.
