Update 1902 – Second case reported
A second coronavirus case of the day has been detected.
A migrant who was among a group of 63 rescued and brought ashore on Friday tested positive upon arrival, a health ministry spokesperson told Times of Malta.
The other 62 people on board all tested negative and are now quarantining in reception centres. They will be re-tested next week. The individual who tested positive was admitted to hospital for treatment.
Update 1311 – One new imported case
Malta registered a new case of Covid-19, ending up an eight day streak of no cases. The case has been indicated to be an imported case, of someone who returned to Malta and developed symptoms. In the brief description, accompanying the info graph, the Ministry of Health said that contact-tracing is underway.
Updated 1111 – PN to decide way forward on Thursday
Newsbook.com.mt is reporting that the Nationalist Party will decide on the way forward next Thursday. It quotes PN leader Adrian Delia, who was interviewed this morning on 103 by Fr Joe Borg on 103. The PN leader said that as next Thursday the PN Executive will hold another meeting a decision on the current situation and the way forward for the party need to be decided.
Updated 0840 – Newspaper Review
The Times leads with a report by the Standards Commissioner on a trip to Dubai by Joseph Muscat in December. The investigation contradicted claims by the former Prime Minister that he paid for the trip from personal funds but did not find him in breach of ethics.
The Independent covers a press conference by the Developers Association which is proposing that members pay for architect fees for third-party neighbours adjacent to construction sites.
L-Orizzont says that 63 migrants disembarked in Malta on Friday after finding themselves in distress in Malta’s Search and Rescue zone. NGO Alarm Phone first reported a boat in distress on Thursday to authorities in Malta in Italy.
In-Nazzjon says that the government did not issue any statements following the arrival of 63 migrants on Friday. The paper says that over 1,700 migrants have disembarked in Malta since the beginning of the year.
The Times quotes Enterprise Malta CEO Kurt Farrugia who said in court that people with offshore companies have no place in public life. He was testifying in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry on Friday.
The Independent follows the testimony of former OPM communications director Kurt Farrugia in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry. Farrugia said that Konrad Mizzi had initially dismissed reports of his companies in Panama as ‘bluff’.
L-Orizzont also reports on the testimony of Kurt Farrugia who said that there was a sense of shock in Castille when news of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder arrived. He pointed out, however, that the journalist was ‘often incorrect’ in her stories.
In-Nazzjon quotes Kurt Farrugia who told the Caruana Galizia public inquiry that he saw Yorgen Fenech in Castille once “possibly for a meeting with Keith Schembri”. The only other occasion when he saw the businessman was at an event related to the new power station.
Morning Briefing
Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s trip to Dubai late last year was not considered to have breached the Code of Ethics by the Standards Commissioner George Hyzler. The Standards Commissioner investigated a complaint by PD leader Timothy Alden and PN leader Adrian Delia. The complaints concerned the cost of the visit and whether this was met by Muscat himself or by a third party, Hyzler’s office said in a statement.
The Commissioner reported that a third party paid for the trip, amounting to around to €21,000 in cash. The identity of the third party was not disclosed.
Daphne Caruana Galizia Public Inquiry
Former Minister Konrad Mizzi’s first reaction when Daphne Caruana Galizia hinted at the Panama Papers was that such stories were just hogwash and bluff. Testifying during the public inquiry, former Muscat spokesperson Kurt Farrugia said that the team at Castille worked long hours to deliver a better quality of life but that that work had been tarnished through mercenary interests.
“My position was known. People involved in such financial structures had no place in public office. I told the people concerned, point-blank,” explained Kurt Farrugia.
PN Membership increases
The Independent reports that Nationalist Party is experiencing a surge in new membership applications and renewals, with sources saying that this reflects efforts being made by anti-Delia MPs to garner wider support for the eventuality that a new confidence vote is held.
PN Leader Adrian Delia has refused step down the 17 MPs (plus two MEPs) as well as a majority in the Executive council voted against him in the past two weeks.
Coronavirus update
The Health Department said yesterday that there were no new coronavirus cases in Malta during the previous day. This was the 8th consecutive day without any new case. Another person recovered, meaning only three active cases remain at this stage.
CDE News
