Update 1235h Covid-19 Update – The number of COVID-19 patients receiving hospital treatment has shot up to 34 with one being in the intensive therapy unit, according to data given by the health authorities. The number of people in hospital reported on Saturday was 19. In their daily update on Facebook, the authorities said 127 new COVID-19 cases have been registered overnight. – Times Of Malta
Update 1215h – The leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech said that under the Robert Abela administration, everyone is considered a criminal.
Interviewed on party radio station NET FM, the Nationalist leader was speaking on his electoral promise of getting Malta off the FATF greylist within three months should he be elected Prime Minsiter.
“When there is added scrutiny by the banks, by your notary, that is thanks to the Labour government for getting us on the greylist,” he said. “Under Robert Abela’s government everyone is presumed to be a criminal, and we are against this.” – MaltaToday
Update 1045 – Malta cannot rest on what it has achieved so far, as doing so would endanger all of it, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday about the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The Malta Independent reports Abela saying “We have best vaccination programme in the world. We cannot rest as we would put everything in peril. I urge everyone to take the vaccine and to help us urge those who have not taken it to take it.” The reality is that there is a small minority who don’t want to take the vaccine, he said. “While you can’t force someone to take the vaccine, the country will take all the decisions with the aim to give value to the vaccine to protect the Maltese people, especially the elderly and vulnerable.” He said that currently restaurants are open, artistic and cultural activities began to take place, sport activities are taking place. “Let’s let this all continue. To do this we must keep the vaccination programme strong and we can’t rest until, if possible, we have everyone vaccinated.”
Air Malta has received 15,000 booking cancellations for travel during the month of July since Malta introduced restrictions on travel earlier this month. In June, Malta actively opened up for tourism, allowing both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists to enter the country.
hen, on the 9th of July, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne announced that only people with a recognised vaccination certificate will be allowed to travel to Malta, and that English language schools were to close. The new rules came into effect on the 14th of July, and anyone not travelling to Malta with a recognised vaccination certificate needs to undergo a mandatory quarantine.
This news has impacted Malta’s tourism industry. Contacted by The Malta Independent on Sunday, Air Malta said that it has experienced a significant change in booking trends since the restrictions were announced. The change was not only limited to right after the announcement, as the airline said that the effects are still being experienced now.
Responding to questions sent by Malta Independent on Sunday on Friday, the airline said that over the past thirteen days, “there have been a total of over 15,000 seats cancelled which had been previously booked for travel during the month of July. This unfortunately is a trend across all nineteen markets being operated. Booking activity from the local home Maltese market had not previously kicked in and currently shows no sign of doing so.” Air Malta said that bookings for travel during the month of August have not seen the same degree of initial cancellations, with just over 3,000 seats having been cancelled. However, the airline is still concerned as booking growth has stagnated with no growth being experienced.” The airline said that it has also experienced an increase of passenger no shows at airports. “No shows have exponentially increased and are now running daily between 30-35% for inbound travel to Malta.”
Newspaper Review
The Independent on Sunday says that the financial services authority has completed its search for a new CEO. The identity of the incoming officer is not revealed but sources told the paper that the appointment will be the MFSA’s first non-Maltese chief.
The Sunday Times leads with survey results indicating that almost 80 per cent of the electorate would vote for the same party they did in 2017. 57 per cent of the total said they would vote for the PL while 42 per cent would vote for the PN.
Illum reports on contrasting concerns by the medical and accommodation sectors. The union of nurses called for fresh measures to control the spread of the virus while the hotels’ association warned that the country faces financial ruin unless restrictions are eased.
Malta Today reports that one of the partners operating the Bolt app is suing the company for €1.6 million over mounting debt. In a court request filed on Friday, the shareholder says the platform is ‘legally insolvent’.
It-Torċa speaks with a non-EU citizen who flagged wage discrimination between Maltese workers who earned €7.50 an hour and foreign workers who made €4.95. The woman said she hoped the situation would improve after the pandemic, but feels it deteriorated.
Kullħadd reveals that a Maltese new film production featuring American star Frank Grillo is scheduled to start filming towards the end of the year. Lowell Dean will direct the movie scripted by Jean Pierre Magro.
Il-Mument carries an interview with the new president of the PN General Council Mark Anthony Sammut who said that the party is attracting new people that see it as the only alternative to the government.
The Sunday Times says that the government has requested access to information on offshore holdings in Dubai obtained by Germany. Senior officials told the paper that the data will establish potential tax evasion.
The Independent on Sunday reports that Air Malta has registered over 15,000 flight cancellations across all markets since new Covid-19 measures were introduced in July. The airline said that it is also experiencing a rise in no-shows.
Illum publishes an interview with Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that 82 per cent of the population is now fully vaccinated. He explained that, without the vaccines, the country would be in lockdown again.
It-Torċa reports the death of a 73-year-old woman from Covid-19 at Mater Dei hospital on Saturday. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that 299 infected students who were in Malta to learn English were repatriated.
Malta Today says that the Superintendent for Public Health has declined to answer questions about shortening the quarantine period for contacts of Covid-19 patients to five days. The system is currently reserved for essential workers at Mater Dei.
Kullħadd quotes Prime Minister Robert Abela in his closing address to the Labour Party General Conference on Saturday. He said that the party’s vision for the country looks ahead with optimism.
Il-Mument reports that active coronavirus cases climbed to 2,373 by the latest count, with more than 1,400 new infections reported in the last week. Meanwhile, health authorities announced the death of a 73-year-old patient who was being treated in hospital.
Morning Briefing
PM announces investments in manufacturing
Prime Minister Robert Abela revealed that three large manufacturing firms have plans to announce significant, multi-million investments in Malta, creating new jobs. Addressing Labour’s general conference, Abela said that during the pandemic the Government kept workers in jobs with the wage supplement, which created a sense of confidence. He argued that Malta managed to control the pandemic and protect people’s lives, while at the same time the country saved workers’ livelihood and kept the economy going.
Abela promised to translate the country’s wealth into better quality of life.
Protestors demand end of pandemic rules
A large number of protestors, the majority not wearing masks, asked authorities to end ongoing pandemic rules. Marching in Valletta, they said that these rules curbed their freedom and individual rights. During the event, which reflected similar protests around the world, also saw a number of attendees expressing opposition against vaccines.
ADPD criticises hotel lobby
The ADPD has called out hoteliers for “once again demanding special treatment”, accusing the sector for the predicament faced by the country. Addressing a presser on Saturday, party secretary Sandra Gauci said that hoteliers want special treatment after causing their own problems. “The MHRA has called for the exemption of workers in the tourism sector from income tax on overtime. But they forget to tell us the real reasons why some of their workers chose to leave the sector. These workers are so poorly paid, with a large number of them on zero-hour contracts that they do not even reach the income brackets to pay income tax,” she said.
Covid-19 Update
A 73 year old woman became Malta’s 421 Covid death. 171 cases were reported on Saturday while 92 recovered. The active case tally stands at 2,373.
CDE News
