Updated 1311 – Low income persons to receive difference on increasing rents
Low income persons, pensioners and persons receiving social benefits will receive up to a maximum difference of €10,000 in the new rent that they have to pay, according to the reform to address anomalies of pre-1995 rents.
The new rent will be set at 2% of the property’s actual value.
Updated 1240 – Covid-19 Update
Health authorities reported 237 new COVID-19 cases and 168 recovering. The new cases were detected from 3,578 swab tests. This means the number of active cases continues to increase, reaching 2,651. No deaths were reported.
Chamber calls for responsibility
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry highlighted the need for greater discipline and enforcement to curb this latest trend in virus spikes without having to resort to lockdowns as other countries have been forced to do. In a statement, the business lobby said that a recent spike in cases was attributable to to social gatherings, a lack of observance with the measures in place and the circulation of the new and highly infectious UK variant, the chamber said.
“More responsibility will also lighten the burden on the country’s healthcare workers, who have been working tirelessly to control the situation. This responsibility should be carried by all members of society”, it added.
It is time to rebuild what has been destroyed – President Vella
President of the Republic George Vella said that it is time for people from all walks of society to come together and discuss the issues that are dividing us. “Today will not fix the problems, but it is a big step forward for the discussion and a start to address the situation we are in”, he said, while addressing a conference on national unity organised by his office.
“We must ask ourselves, is Malta only for the Maltese or is it for all those who live here? Are we all being responsible to ensure that we safeguard the environment?” Vella argued that he first step to building national unity is through education and teaching one another about our differences.
Now is the time to “rebuild what has been destroyed,” he declared. “The first step is the hardest and that is why we are here together to take it, and I hope we learn from one another.”
Newspaper Review
The Times follows the case in court about the 2018 double-decker tragedy that left two passengers dead and many injured. Four company directors and the driver pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The Independent says that Magistrate Joe Mifsud reprimanded the prosecution after four of the six charges brought against the driver and company directors of a sight-seeing bus involved in a tragic accident were time-barred.
In-Nazzjon reports on Bernard Grech’s reaction to allegations that former minister Chris Cardona was implicated in plans to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia. The PN Leader raised questions about links between the government and organised crime.
L-Orizzont quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmain Gauci who said that the rise in Covid-19 cases in recent days is the result of more rapid-testing. On Friday, there were 258 positive results, the highest number in a single day.
The Times says that the UK variant of the coronavirus now accounts for about eight percent of total active cases in Malta. Authorities have observed an increase in the local transmission rate of the strand.
The Independent says that the government will next week introduce new protocols for visits at homes for the elderly. Active Ageing Minister Michael Farrugia urged people to be cautious even after the administration of the vaccine.
In-Nazzjon says that the past week registered the highest number of Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with over 1,400 new infections and twelve victims. Another 10 patients are currently in intensive care.
L-Orizzont reports that EU leaders are moving closer to a digital Covid-19 passport for vaccinated citizens allowing travel across the bloc. Malta, Spain and Cyprus are backing the move originally proposed by the Greek government.
Morning Briefing
UK variant behind increase in Covid-cases
Health Superintendent Prof Charmaine Gauci attributed the increase in cases to the spreading of the UK variant, with a number of clusters of positive cases being related to this same variant. The seven-day moving average stands at 203, the first time it exceeded the two hundred mark. On the positive side, she noted the positive impact of the vaccination was clearly visible with a reduction in cases related to nursing homes.
A staggering 258 cases were reported on Friday, taking the total number of cases in Malta to 21,982. With 182 new recoveries, the number of active cases has increased to 2,582. 3,640 swab tests were taken yesterday.
Two additional deaths, an 83 year-old woman and a 76 year old male, take the tally of fatalities to 313.Health authorities
also reported 73,644 doses were administered, 23,395 of which were second doses.
Court accepts Ministry request to suspend industrial action at hospital
The Court has temporarily suspended industrial action ordered by the UĦM Voice of the Workers union in hospital following an application for an injunction filed by the health ministry. The action concerned some 1,300 healthcare workers in different sectors, with the Union lamenting that the Government was not abiding to its pledges.
Judge Grazio Mercieca halted the action until submissions on the merits of the case are heard in court. In a press statement, the union accused the government of “hiding behind an injunction” instead of holding talks with the union to find solutions in the interest of both patients and workers. It said Friday was “a bad day for social dialogue”.
Magistrate recuses herself from Tal-Maksar case
Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia has recused herself from hearing the compilation of evidence brought forward against the tal-Maksar brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio, on the grounds that she had also been presiding the inquiries relating to some of the charges. In a decree issued on Friday, Magistrate Farrugia highlighted the fact that she was the inquiring magistrate into the murder of Carmel Chircop and was still involved in it.
CDE News
