Updated 1850
The number of new COVID-19 cases increased to 109 on Saturday. Cases have last been over 100 in March.
With two patients having recovered, the number of active cases is now 359.
Newspaper Review
The Times says that language schools will shut down from Wednesday following a spike in Covid-19 cases linked to incoming students. Health Minister Chris Fearne said that cases were reported at nine schools, but hospitalisations remained low.
The Independent quotes Health Minister Chris Fearne who announced a government decision that all arriving visitors will need to present a vaccine certificate from Wednesday. He said Malta will be the first EU country to impose this measure.
In-Nazzjon says that active Covid-19 cases rose to 252 by Friday after three days of increases. The PN is calling for more screening of inbound tourists, including offering PCR tests to visitors without vaccination.
L-Orizzont says that the Victim Support Agency received three requests for help every day since it was established in April. Agency CEO Brian Farrugia said that the most common crimes victims face are domestic violence, theft, and fraud.
The Independent leads with results from a survey among 230 companies showing that two-thirds of businesses believe the FATF grey-listing will have a strong impact on the economy. Most respondents identified money laundering as the main reason behind the decision.
The Times quotes survey findings by the Employers’ Association that nine of ten businesses expect an adverse impact on the economy in the wake of the FATF grey-listing. More than half of respondents believe the blow will be felt in the coming six months.
that the Nationalist Party opens its General Council in Gozo this evening with the theme ‘Belief in Malta’. Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech said the exercise will build on the renewal process of the party.
L-Orizzont reports that the police have arrested a wanted man after he repeatedly failed to appear before the courts. He is being accused of failing to pay maintenance to his wife and children.
In-Nazzjon reports on a visit by the Ħamrun Spartans football team to PN Leader Bernard Grech on Friday. Grech congratulated the team members on its successful season and encouraged the club to keep investing in young people.
Morning Briefing
Only vaccinated travelers to be allowed from next week
After a strong surge in new coronavirus cases this week, attributed mostly to non-vaccinated young people from abroad, Government has moved to require all travellers to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination. At the same time, all English language schools have been shut down, Health Miniter Chris Fearne.
A vaccine certificate will be required as from next week, while children have to present a recent negative swab test. “We will be the first country in Europe to take this step,” he said. “We are not changing other parts of our [reopening] plan for now, but we will do so if the science suggests we should do so”, Fearne said.
Children accompanying their parents will have to present a recent negative PCR test to be allowed in. Unaccompanied children will not be allowed into the country.
Fearne said the increase in Covid-19 cases is not restricted to Malta. “It is a phenomenon we are witnessing in this country is that the vast majority – around 90% of positive cases – are unvaccinated people. This confirms that those who are not vaccinated are at risk of contracting Covid-19.”
88% of business think grey-listing will leave negative impact
The results of a survey carried out by the Malta Employers’ Association into the perceptions of businesses about the grey listing reveal that 88% of respondents believe that the FATF Grey listing will leave a negative impact on the Maltese economy, with 64% anticipating strong repercussions.
71% anticipate that the grey listing will affect their business directly. The results show that 63% of respondents reported that the grey listing will be affecting them within the coming 6 months. The degree of uncertainty is uneven among sectors, with companies in financial services, igaming and other services expecting stronger repercussions than manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and tourism. Businesses are also concerned about rising compliance costs, with some companies having resorted to employing additional personnel to deal with the bureaucracy of added compliance.
Covid-19 Update
New coronavirus cases have continued their upward surge after 96 new cases were reported on Friday. With only 3 persons recovering, the number of active cases now stands at 252. 2,903 swabs were taken the day before.
CDE News
