Update 1630h Another CoVid-19 victim
A 67-year-year-old man has become the 42nd victim of COVID-19 in Malta, and one of the youngest.
He passed away on Sunday at Mater Dei Hospital, where he was being treated in intensive care.
Update 1230h Covid19 Update
The Health Ministry’s daily bulletin reports that there were 95 new Covid-19 cases registered in the past 24 hours. This follows the 100 new cases reported yesterday. The total number of active cases is 768, in view of 30 recoveries reported in the past 24 hours.
Update 1200h – Malta will not close airport
Closing the airport to stop the Coronavirus spread is not on the cards, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday. Speaking during a Labour Party political gathering, Abela said the airport would be staying open but with increased safety measures. “The way forward is not closing the airport, but safe travelling,” he said. (Times of Malta).
Update 1100h – Government warns of disruption in administration of flu vaccine following Nurses’ union directives
The government has warned that the administration of flu vaccine will be interrupted in several localities after the union instructed its members not to administer it. In a statement, the government announced that the Primary HealthCare is notifying the public that the the service of administering the flu vaccine for free will be disrupted in several localities due to the industrial action. (Newsbook.com.mt)
Morning Briefing
President in self-isolation after staff member tests positive
President George Vella and his wife Miriam will be self-isolating after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, The President’s office said the positive case had been detected during a routine swab test. While both President Vella and his wife returned negative swabs yesterday, the couple will be self-isolating “as a precautionary measure”.
Malta registered 100 new Covid-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, with the number of recoveries during the same period being 22.
The total number of cases now stands at 703. Since the first pandemic case registered, Malta had a total 3681 cases, 2937 recoveries and 41 persons died of Covid-19.
PN calls for decleration of a Public Health Emergency
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party has called for the declaration of a public health emergency as Malta’s active coronavirus cases hit an all-time high on Saturday.
“The Nationalist Party is against imposing a lockdown and therefore there is a need for a declaration of a public health emergency to once again give the Superintendent for Public Health the authority to make the important decisions,” the PN said.
Influenza vaccine available as from today
The vaccination against influenza will start being administered with effect from today, health authorities said. Anyone over the age of 55, vulnerable persons and children up to age give can go and get vaccinated. The vaccine will be administered from clinics and health centres.
The health authorities are encouraging the public to get vaccinated, in order to avoid the risk of influenza in winter.
Government defends hunters’ deal, says access will not be restricted
As pressure on Government increased following the deal with hunters on the management of the woodland areas of Miżieb and L-Aħrax, in a statement it refuted claims that the agreement was secret, insisting that all details were public.
Government said that The Aħrax and Miżieb reserves have been administered by the FKNK, under different administrations, for the past 34 years. The Federation, with the help of its members and volunteers, had always taken great care of the area, by cultivating trees, and mantaing kilometres of rubble wall. The result of such care can be seen in both areas where there are many endemic trees and flora and fauna that can be enjoyed by all those who visit or pass by;
The statement said that the general public will have free access to these reserves all year round—the same access they have had for the past 34 years.
CDE News
