Update 2000 – Malta updates travel restrictions
The Minister responsible for Public Health notifies that it revised the list which fall under the Mandatory Tests for Certain Travelers Regulations, 2020.
Any traveller arriving in Malta from any of the countries listed in the revised list of countries indicated hereunder is required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test performed no later than seventy-two (72) hours before arrival in Malta. Travelers arriving in Malta from any of the said countries who fail to produce such a test may be submitted to testing in Malta and may be subject to quarantine.
Revised List of Countries;
Austria
Belgium (all airports)
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
France (all Paris airports, Marseille)
Hungary
Ireland
Netherlands (all airports)
Poland (Gdansk, Krakow)
Portugal (Porto)
Spain (Madrid, Barcelona and Girona airport)
Switzerland (all airports)
Tunisia
United Kingdom (Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle)
This Notice regarding the revised list of countries shall come into effect on Friday 23rd October, at midnight.
Updated 1745 – News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of conspiring to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, continued in court on Wednesday.
MaltaToday reports that services for expectant parents at Mater Dei Hospital will be restored after health authorities reverse a decision to deploy midwives to coronavirus contact tracing team
Newsbook reports that Bishop Mario Grech, who is now the new Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, said he is quite critical of the attitude of many Catholics during the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
TVM reports that the Police have arrested the driver suspected of carrying out a hit and run in Gzira yesterday afternoon.
Updated 1245 – 155 new cases in Malta
155 new cases of coronavirus were identified during the past 24 hours, Health authorities said. With 49 recoveries, the number of active cases has increased to 1,649. Malta has now registered more than 5,000 coronavirus cases in total. 2,823 swab tests were carried out during the same timeframe.
Updated 1145 – Yorgen Fenech trial resumes, defence team claims frame-up
A tense morning characterised today’s Court session in the case against Yorgen Fenech, alleged mastermind of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. One of his lawyers today argued that the case if a frame-up on Fenech, orchestrated with the support of the prosecution. To defend this claim, Mercieca refers to evidence that this team have asked for and which they had not yet received.
He also insisted that Melvin Theuma (the self-confessed middleman)’s pardon was bought with the knowledge of former police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar. Mercieca said that Theuma paid 17,000 euro for this pardon, and also suggested that the prosecution trained Theuma on how to testify on the witness stand, a claim strongly refuted by Inspector Keith Arnaud.
Updated 0900 – Newspaper Review
The Times speaks to economist Stephanie Fabri who said that the infringement procedures by the European Commission against Malta’s golden passport programme exposes the overreliance of the economy’s finances on the scheme.
In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Bernard Grech in his first speech in parliament on Tuesday. Grech expressed concern about the rising number of Covid-19 cases and said that the country cannot have a strong economy without good health.
The Independent reports on Malta’s reply to a formal letter by the EU Commission warning against the individual investor programme. The government insists that citizenship in the EU remains the competence of states.
L-Orizzont quotes economists Philip von Brockdorff and Kearon Bruno who welcomed the measures announced in the Budget. The former said this was a ‘positive Budget’ while the latter described it as a visionary exercise.
The Times follows a debate in parliament where Opposition Leader Bernard Grech accused the Prime Minister of interfering in the work of health authorities, a claim denied by Health Minister Chris Fearne.
The Independent reports that Malta registered a drop of 15 percentage points in Foreign Direct Investment attractiveness from last year. An annual EY survey shows that 25 percent of investors said the country is not attractive, the largest share ever recorded.
L-Orizzont reports on a statement by Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the first Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in January. The minister said that rapid testing kits will be available by the end of this month.
In-Nazzjon reports that a 72-year-old woman died from Covid-19 on Tuesday, the 46th victim of the pandemic. The total number of infections since March has now surpassed 5,000 and there are 1,547 active cases at the moment.
Morning Briefing
Vaccine expected in Malta by January
Malta is expecting the to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by January and that within the following months the vaccine will be released to the entire population. Health Minister Chris Fearne said this yesterday afternoon while discussing the Covid-19 pandemic in Parliament.
“At the beginning we were worried that once this important vaccine will be provided to the bigger EU countries and the smaller EU countries, such as Malta will be one of the last to be given the vaccine.”
Fearne added: “Instead we have worked hard to ensure that Malta will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccine, and if trials continue to be so positive, we will see the arrival of the vaccine by the beginning of 2021.”
PM Abela is at fault for current spike – PN
PN Leader Bernard Grech criticised the government on its handling of the crisis, saying that the situation is now worse than before because of contrasting messages given by the government”.
Grech had words of praise for all frontliners. “We need to take care of these front liners because if they are abused they cannot be bought back. We cannot have a strong economy without a strong population.”
Malta had registered 134 cases in the previous 24 hours, as Malta’s daily tally continues to hit triple digits. It also registered 40 recoveries. The country’s total active cases now stands at 1543. A 46th death was also registered yesterday in relation to Covid-19.
EU launches procedure against Malta on passport sales
The European Commission has formally launched infringement procedures against Cyprus and Malta by issuing letters of formal notice regarding their investor citizenship schemes also referred to as “golden passport” schemes.
The Commission considers that the granting by these Member States of their nationality – and thereby EU citizenship – in exchange for a pre-determined payment or investment and without a genuine link with the Member States concerned, is not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union. This also undermines the integrity of the status of EU citizenship provided for in Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The Maltese Government said it will contest these procedures.
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