Updated 1656 – Guardian says Malta to be removed from England’s travel corridor.
UK news portal The Guardian has reported exclusively that Malta and The Netherlands are set to be removed from England’s travel corridor list.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, met with ministers yesterday afternoon where it is understood it was decided the Netherlands and Malta would be taken off the list after a rise in Covid-19 cases in the countries.
The portal says that a formal announcement is not expected before tomorrow.
Updated 1232 – 55 new cases of coronavirus
The Health Department reported 55 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, resulting from just under 2,500 tests. Only 12 cases are related to previous cases.
With 13 persons recovered, there are now 528 active cases.
Premier League club Birkirkara FC has joined Balzan, Santa Venera and Naxxar in reporting a case within its ranks.
Updated 0823 – Newspaper Review
The Malta Business Weekly quotes a statement by the Medical Association warning the government that if effective measures to control the Covid-19 spread were not introduced by Friday, it will order directives to its members.
The Independent follows the testimony of Finance Minister Edward Scicluna in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry during which he said that the Cabinet of Ministers had advised former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to fire Konrad Mizzi over the Panama scandal.
The Times quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who said that he was not part of the ‘inner circle’ who made decisions on controversial projects in the Muscat Administration. Scicluna was testifying in the Caruana Galizia public inquiry on Thursday.
In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Finance Minister Mario de Marco who, in reaction to the testimony by Edward Scicluna on Wednesday, said that the Finance Minister had repeated opportunities to distance himself from Joseph Muscat, but did not.
L-Orizzont says that a wave of new coronavirus cases is surging across Europe, particularly in Spain, France, and Germany. The paper reports that registered new cases in the UK rose to more than 1,100, the highest since the last week of June.
The Times reports that Sicily has imposed a 14-day quarantine period for anyone entering the island from Malta with effect from Friday. Belgium and the Netherlands have also put Malta on the unsafe list.
The Independent reports that 13 new Covid-19 cases were linked to clusters at Mount Carmel hospital, the Jurassic Park filming crew, and the Balzan football nursery. There are currently 486 active cases.
In-Nazzjon reports that the relatives of Lino Cauchi who was killed in the early 1980s filed a judicial protest in court arguing that they were discriminated against by the government when it did not investigate the case.
L-Orizzont announces that the General Workers Union has registered industrial action at Air Malta after the company turned down offers to discuss changes to rosters for workers in the Aviation Services. Around 400 people work in this division, providing servicing to aircraft.
The Malta Business Weekly reports that Mount Carmel closed down for visitors after a cluster of virus cases was traced back to the hospital. Seven residents have been infected and are being kept in isolation.
Morning Briefing
Malta to require testing for persons traveling from higher risk destinations
Health Minister Chris Fearne announced yesterday that Maltese health authorities are planning to introduce a requirement whereby persons traveling from higher-risk destinations will need to produce a negative Covid-19 test taken in the previous couple of days.
Persons not presenting such test on their arrival would be subjected to an immediate test on their arrival.
Speaking on TVM, Fearne echoed Prime Minister Abela’s message, insisting that the situation was under control and that the current numbers were not alarming.
Covid-19: More countries restrict travel to and from Malta
The Italian Health Minister announced yesterday evening that anyone travelling from Malta had to perform a swab test on arrival, following growing concern over new restrictions. This also applied for travelers arriving from Greece, Spain and Croatia.
All those reaching Italy from Malta are required to have carried out a coronavirus test 72 hours before flying and must remain in quarantine pending the results. Earlier yesterday, Sicily had introduced restrictions on Sicilians arriving from neighbouring Malta, imposing a two week quarantine and a mandatory swab test following a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Further north, Belgium have joined neighbouring Netherlands in removing Malta from their safe-list for travel. The nation’s authorities are recommending quarantine and testing for persons returning from Malta following the recent spike in cases. This is not yet mandatory.
Meanwhile, Malta’s Health Department said yesterday that 2,220 swab tests were carried out in the previous 24 hours resulting in 49 new positive cases in the country.
Educators say re-opening school in September is unrealistic
Reopening schools in September, given the current scenario looking unrealistic, according to the Union of Professional Educators. It argued that “the first to hope that schools will re-open in September and that this nightmare is left behind us all.”
“The union fully realises that students of all ages are feeling the impact of this imposed social withdrawal, and is fully aware that the negative impact that prolonged closure will have on their academic progress might be irreversible”, the union said.
CDE News
