Latest Update- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that there are “indications” that Malta will feature on a UK list of countries marked as safe for travel but the government will wait for official confirmation before commenting, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has said.
MaltaToday reports that the State has been ordered to pay out over half a million euros in compensation to the owner of a commercial property in Valletta for being denied his right to enjoy the property for 32 years – a situation that was caused by Malta’s old rent laws.
Newsbook reports that 47-year-old Ivan Barbara who died of coronavirus in India, wanted to get the jab ahead of leaving the island with his wife to adopt their daughter, Newsbook.com.mt has learnt.
TVM reports that 39-year-old Miloud Elforjani, who hails from Tripoli and is facing charges of the attempted murder of his ex-partner through multiple stab wounds, has been fined 500 euro after admitting to calling her from inside the prison, in breach of court orders.
Updated 1235
Covid-19 Update: 12 new coronavirus cases were reported on Friday, while 19 recovered. These cases were identified through 1,956 swab tests. A 95-year-old woman became the 417th death of the pandemic in Malta. The number of active cases now stands at 252.
Immersed Malta-Gozo tunnel not ruled out: The option of an immersed tunnel between Malta and Gozo has not been ruled out by Government, despite this option not being included in the request for proposals for the €300 million project. The information emerged from a parliamentary committee meeting held recently during which the CEO of Infrastructure Malta, Fredrick Azzopardi gave a presentation on the channel project.
ACE happy with restaurant re-opening, calls for immediate issue of vouchers: The Association of Catering Establishments (ACE) has welcomed the news that restaurants can open until midnight as from 24 May, but asked that the number of people on each table to be increased immediately to six. In a statement, it also appealed for the immediate distribution of vouchers.
Newspaper Review
L-Orizzont reports that health authorities reached a new daily record of 7,008 individual vaccinations on Thursday. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the Covid-19 positivity rate currently stands at 1.2 per cent of the population.
The Times follows a press conference by Health Minister Chris Fearne announcing the early reopening of gyms, pools, and day centres on Monday 24. The minister said measures will be relaxed if new Covid-19 cases remain low.
The Independent says that restaurants may open until late afternoon from Monday and until midnight from Monday 24 as government set out new plans. Travel restrictions between Malta and Gozo will be lifted from the beginning of the coming week.
In-Nazzjon publishes a PN statement signed by MPs Jason Azzopardi and Adrian Delia committing to unity and a common focus to fight corruption. Party leader Bernard Grech said the PN is now a stronger alternative government.
L-Orizzont speaks with the Operations Manager at CentreParc Holdings, Joe Bonello, who said that the outlook for summer is encouraging. He said that the early signs since the reopening of the retail sector were good.
The Independent quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that the use of facemasks will no longer be enforced on beaches from June 1. The minister said that wet masks lose their efficacy, but beachgoers are free to wear them.
The Times speaks with Darleen Zerafa from Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek, an organisation providing support for eating disorders. She said that the number of incoming calls increased by a third last year, with a noticeable rise of severe cases among children.
In-Nazzjon quotes the president of the Chamber of SMEs Paul Abela who welcomed a pledge by the PN to revisit the taxation system for local businesses. Abela said that companies need peace of mind, particularly in the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Morning Briefing
PN cancels ExCo after joint Delia-Azzopardi statement
An Executive Committee meeting of the Nationalist Party scheduled yesterday evening was cancelled after feuding duo Adrian Delia and Jason Azzpardi issued a joint statement committing themselves to focus their energies on the good of the party.
The issue had been re-igned after Azzopardi won a libel case he instituted against Censu l-Iswed, a known supporter of Delia.
PN leader Bernard Grech said the issue was now closed: “I promised that I would be joining the Party and said that we needed to change our attitude and work together with one goal in one direction.” Commenting outside PN HQ, Grech said the MPs had agreed to commit themselves to fight the common issue, which was the corruption the country was suffering.
New campus planned for Gozo
An investment of €35 million has been announced for Gozo’s educational sector. Among the investment is a € 10 million project on the Victoria campus, which includes a childcare centre, kindergarten, primary school, middle school, senior school, as well as a sixth form. The project involves the construction of a new primary school in Victoria, Gozo, which will replace the current one, which is about 160 years old.
The new school will be in a different location and will be built on the existing educational campus in Victoria. The project including the expansion and modernization of the middle school on the same campus. The new school will have 16 classes for primary education and 10 classes for kindergarten, while it will also have classes for specific subjects, including science, information technology teaching and art.
Government announces easing of Covid-19 measures
Health Minister Chris Fearne gave an indicative timetable of Malta’s road to normality, with a staggered process during which every Monday throughout the coming four weeks will see a number of social restrictions being removed. A significant chunk of measures will be removed on Monday 24th May, date from which, gyms and pools will be allowed to re-open, restaurants will be allowed to operate until midnight, while contact sports (not team sports) will be allowed for persons aged over 17. The full timeline is available here.
Covid-19 Update
There were nine new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, with 29 recoveries. This has lowered the number of active cases to 260. No deaths were registered in the previous 24 hours.
CDE News
