Covid-19 Update – Four persons died with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. This has brought Malta’s death toll to 350. In the past 24 hours there were 298 new cases and 338 recoveries. The total of active cases is 3,144.
Newspaper Review
The Times says that former minister Chris Cardona, former chief of staff Keith Schembri, and lawyer David Gatt have dismissed claims by hitman Vince Muscat that they were involved in the plot to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia.
In-Nazzjon reports on an interview with PN Leader Bernard Grech who said that the Prime Minister has much to explain following the revelations by Vince Muscat in court, implicating senior Labour Party officials in the Caruana Galizia murder.
The Independent reports that the number of active Covid-19 cases rose to 3,188 after more than 300 new infections were registered on Friday. Five people, aged between 38 and 85, succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours.
L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who said that the average age of people dying from the Covid-19 virus is becoming lower and appealed to the public to follow the new measures.
The Times speaks to the daughter of 47-year-old Mary Sammut, one of only two Covid-19 victims to have died in their homes. Leah Sammut said that the family was shocked at how fast the virus took the life of her otherwise healthy mother.
In-Nazzjon quotes a PN statement calling for the setting up of a scientific advisory board led by professionals to guide authorities on Covid-19. The party has also urged the government to declare a national health emergency.
The Independent follows the testimony of a police inspector on Friday who told the court that the man at the wheel of a tourist bus that was involved in a fatal accident in 2018 was not driving under the influence of alcohol.
L-Orizzont carries an interview with General Workers Unions secretary general Josef Bugeja who said that the average gender wage gap of €3,000 a year is unacceptable and that unions protect their members from similar discrimination.
Morning Briefing
Average age of Covid-fatalities goes down
The average age of a COVID-19 victim has gone down 68.3 years. In her weeky press conference, Prof Charmaine Gauci said that it was inevitable that the number of fatalities would increase. On Friday, five people died, the youngest aged 38. The Health Superintendent also said that 245 persons are currently hospitalised, 29 of which in ITU at Mater Dei.
Hard decisions were needed – Archbishop
Archbishop Charles Scicluna said on Friday that the hard decisions taken as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19 have not been taken capriciously, adding that we also have to give our share and act as support for one another.
Mons Scicluna said it was heartbreaking that as a Christian community we will be spending another Easter denied the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist together.
Celebrating mass at the Minor Basilica of Marija Bambina in Senglea, the Archbishop said that he understands Easter is approaching, and it is not the time during this feast to close churches, but rather, to open them up. However, he added that he does not wish the Church to become a cause of illness and death, and reminded that God is the God of life. The Archbishop reiterated he cannot allow the Church to be open to crowds of the faithful, meanwhile causing people to become ill and possibly die.
Teleworking is for everyone – Civil service head
Public Service Head Mario Cutajar has stated that the directive issued on 4 March regarding telework in the public service is applicable to everyone.
Mr Cutajar stated this in a reaction to a statement by the UĦM Voice of the Workers in which it issued directives for public sector workers to work from home. He recalled that more than a week ago—on the 4th of March 2021—the Principal Permanent Secretary issued a directive which stated that all public sector workers whose work does not need to be done from the office should work via teleworking.
This is applicable to both those who are vulnerable and those who are not considered as such. The directive of the Head of the Public Service is applicable to all, he insisted.
Covid-19 Update
329 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Malta on Friday, with 259 recovering. These were identified through 3,779 swab tests and further increase the number of active cases to 3,188. Malta is now on the verge of reaching 26,000 cases. In addition, five more persons died, including a man aged 38 and a woman aged 47. The number of fatalities have reached 346.
113,258 doses of Coivid-19 jabs have been administered.
