Updated 1241 – 90 new Covid-cases
New COVID-19 cases went down to double digits for the first time in seven weeks. Health authorities reported 90 cases today, though only 2,661 perons were tested. Two patients, a 76-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman died overnight, bringing the number of deaths to 375.
Meanwhile, health authorities said that 212 patients recovered further decreasing currently 2,479 active virus cases in Malta.
Updated 1110 – Inflation slightly down
In February 2021, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Retail rRice Index was 0.19 per cent, down from the 0.33 per cent in January 2021. The 12-month moving average rate for February stood at 0.49 per cent.
The largest upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the Personal Care and Health Index (+0.22 percentage
points), while the largest downward impact was recorded in the Transport and Communication Index (-0.27 percentage
points).
Updated 0835 – Newspaper Review
The Independent asks the Prime Minister whether he believes Keith Schembri following last Saturday’s arraignment. Abela said that he has never defended the former chief of staff but refused to comment further on the situation.
The Times says that former chief of staff Keith Schembri has filed a new request for bail, expected to be decided on Friday. Schembri’s lawyers argue that his constitutional rights are being violated.
The Independent says that Opposition MPs used their time in parliament on Monday to discuss the events that led to the arrest of Keith Schembri. PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami said the Labour Party does not realise the suffering corruption has inflicted on the country.
L-Orizzont reports that an auditor has been held on preventive arrest, accused of falsification of documents and money laundering in connection to a fuel smuggling operation involving former international footballer Darren Debono.
In-Nazzjon covers a press conference addressed by PN spokesperson for good governance Therese Comodini Cachia who said that Malta’s reputation has been damaged by the impunity and state capture.
The Times follows the testimony of state witness Vince Muscat who gave details of how the bomb planted in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s car was procured. He said the journalist was going to publish “important information”.
The Independent reports on the testimony of Vince Muscat who said the killers plotting Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder chose a car bomb because it was an “easier” solution. He told the court that pistols can be heard.
L-Orizzont quotes self-confessed killer Vince Muscat who told the courts that Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, accused of supplying the bomb in the Caruana Galizia assassination, visited contacts in Italy every month.
In-Nazzjon says that PN Leader Bernard Grech discussed the weekend’s event during a summit of the European People’s Party. He said that the party is committed to restoring Malta’s good name.
Morning Briefing
Schembri asks again for bail
Former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri has filed a fresh request for bail, with a decision however not expected to be taken until Friday.
Lawyers representing Schembri have filed an application in the courts after he was remanded in custody for fear of tampering with ongoing investigations. He was taken to prison last Saturday, together with ten other persons, including his father, accused with a number of offences ranging from corruption to money laundering.
His lawyers have also requested a referral to the highest court in the country arguing that their client’s constitutional rights are being violated. Meanwhile, TVM, the national broadcaster, quoted police sources in reporting that investigations on these cases are still active and it is not excluded that more persons are arraigned in court.
PN MPs slam budget debate as irrelevant
Opposition MPs described the parliamentary debate on Government’s financial estimates as irrelevant following the latest news relating to the arraignment of a number of people with charges of corruption and money laundering. PN MP Claudio Grech said the problems were self-inflicted and that the government was in constant “political fire-fighting” mode. The country needed stability and required an alternative.
On the other hand, Government MPs, including ministers and parliamentary secretaries, went ahead with their speeches about the implementation of the budget, which they described as a social budget.
1,545 fines dished out last week for Covid-rule breaking
Authorities said that enforcement agencies handed 1,545 fines last week to people caught in failure to abide with Covid regulations
1,289 persons were caught not wearing a mask, while another 148 persons fined after being in groups of more than four.
Another 108 contraventions were issued in connection with other regulations breach, including those of gatherings in homes. This follows the introduction of the legal notice that limit gatherings in homes to not more than two households.
Inspections were also held to inquire about persons in quarantine, during which six persons were found not to be observing these regulations.
Covid-19 Update
191 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Monday, with 323 recovering. These cases were identified through 3,413 swab tests carried out yesterday and lower the active case tally to 2,603.
Until Sunday, 145,935 doses of the anti-Covid vaccination were administered, 44,483 of which were second doses. A 99-year old female became the 373rd fatality of the pandemic in Malta.
CDE News
