Updated 1745- News Portal Briefing
Times of Malta reports that flu vaccinations will resume Sunday
MaltaToday reports that migrant residence rules could increase povery and social exclusion
Newsbook reports that a corporate services provider has been fined by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit
TVM reports that Floriana Local Council is considering naming a street and erecting a monument to Oliver Friggieri
Updated 1150
Bars and każini to remain shut
Bars and każini will remain closed for a number of weeks, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced this morning. He said that after consultation with Health Minister Chris Fearne, the decision was taken for bars not to reopen, as was initially planned, at the beginning of December, meaning they will have to remain shut for a bit longer.
Abela said that “this was a very difficult decision but given the current situation we feel it is more prudent that these establishments remain closed for the time being. We remain sympathetic and supportive of everyone impacted by these difficult measures but safeguarding public health remains a priority.”
The Prime Minister re-iterated that the COVID-19 situation was “stable and under control” and insisted that it was crucial that health services, particularly at Mater Dei Hospital, remained stable, moreso now that a vaccine was close to be available.
Bars and każini have been asked to shutdown towards the end of October following a post-Summer spike in cases of coronavirus in Malta.
Bleak outlook for the next six months
Over half of fashion retailers and restaurants said that they were considering scaling down their operations and lay off workers if the current business conditions persist.
A survey carried out by PwC found that existing and anticipated drops in sales and clientele, as well as a termination of the COVID-19 support schemes, are the topmost concerns of 89 per cent of business, it finds, showing the reliance on the government of two of the hardest-hit industries in the pandemic.
Businesses are also deeply concerned with the repayment of bank loans once moratoria expire – with roughly half of respondents seeing this as a worrying issue that they will be facing in the first half of 2021.
New leads in Caruana Galizia case
Superintendent Keith Arnaud told the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry this morning that data extracted from Yorgen Fenech’s electronic devices by Europol has given police new leads on people previously unknown to the investigation.
The superintendent said the data, which is being investigated by Maltese police with the support of Europol could shed new light on certain aspects of the crime. Data extracted from Fenech’s mobile will be shortly presented to the Courts.
Arnaud told the former Chief Justice Joseph Said Pullicino that “there are new leads. It could lead to other people who are somehow involved in the murder. It doesn’t necessarily concern the people known to the investigation so far.”
Updated 0822 – Newspaper Review
The Independent leads with a government announcement declaring Wednesday a day of mourning in remembrance of Professor Oliver Friggieri who died on Saturday. The state funeral for the intellectual will take place this afternoon.
In-Nazzjon says that the funeral cortege for Oliver Friggieri this afternoon will pass through the University of Malta, where the professor spent most of his days. The funeral ceremony will take place at St John’s co-cathedral in Valletta.
L-Orizzont speaks to academic Raymond Mangion, a close friend of Oliver Friggieri. The professor said that the literary giant deserved the Nobel Prize for his works and people in Malta do not yet appreciate the wealth of his legacy.
The Times reports on a police raid on former footballers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti, suspected of forming part of an international fuel smuggling network. Another eight people were arrested in the operation.
Malta Today reports that criminal lawyer Arthur Azzopardi and accountant Chris Baldacchino were among the people arrested in an anti-smuggling sting on Monday. Investigators believe the illegal ring had ties with the Mafia and Libyan armed groups.
The Independent quotes Opposition MP Clyde Puli who suggested changes to the electoral system to allow flexibility in the number of representatives elected from each District. The opposition was reacting to a report presented by the Electoral Commission on Monday.
In-Nazzjon reports that five Covid-19 patients died on Tuesday aged between 75 and 88. The paper says that the number of victims rose to 122 since the start of the pandemic, including 14 in the last five days.
The Times quotes a report showing that over a quarter of children enrolled in schools in the inner harbour area have played truant between October and November. Another 17 percent were excused for medical or other reasons.
Malta Today says that health authorities are still investigating the Covid-19 cases registered on Tuesday. From 133 new infections, 16 were among family members of previously known patients, eight were work or other direct contacts, and one came from social gatherings.
L-Orizzont quotes Transport Minister Ian Borg who said that Malta now has the biggest superyacht register in the world. There are 850 yachts of a length of more than 24 metres, an increase of seven percent from last year.
Morning Briefing
Friggieri state funeral today
The State-organised funeral of Professor Oliver Friggieri will be held today at 2pm. Mass praesente cadavere will be said at John’s Co-Cathedral and will be concelebrated by Monsignor Charles Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta.
The Government has also decreed that today will be a day of mourning. Flags on all public buildings be flown at half-mast.
As announced by the Government on Sunday, the funeral of Professor Friggieri, one of the most respected authors of the second half of the 20th century, is being organised by the Maltese State in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the country and the people throughout his career. His works translated into several languages in foreign countries have made a name for Malta around the world, and have given the country the credentials of a nation.
Covid-19 Update
Five COVID-19 patients died between Monday and Tuesday, meaning Malta’s death count now stands at 122.
The fatalities were 76, 83, 82 and 88 years old men and a 75-year old woman. Two of them died at Mater Dei, two at the Good Samaritan Facility and one -at the Gozo General Hospital.
The Health Department reported 133 new cases of coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, with 107 recovering. The number of active cases has reached 2082. 2664 swab tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.
Government borrowing increases
Government has borrowed €700 million during the first half of this year, data tabled in parliament show, almost as much it borrowed throughout the whole of 2013.
This information was probided by newly appointed Finance Minister Clyde Caruana who was replying to a parliamentary question put forward by recently elected PN MP Joseph Ellis.
The statistics showed that in 2013 the government loaned €777,083,600 with an interest rate of 3.71%.
This is almost the same amount that the government loaned during the first half of this year, €700 million (with a 0.27% interest rate).
Covid-19 patients in intensive care have a 60% death rate
COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care have a 60% death rate, according to figures by Mater Dei Hospital’s Intensive Treatment Unit doctors. It rises to 70% if a patient also develops kidney failure, according to the first comprehensive data on critical care since the start of the pandemic.
These figures, revealed to the Times of Malta by the ITU Consultant Group, have been gathered to gain a better understanding of how the disease is impacting local patients.
CDE News
