Updated 1230 – News Portal Review
Covid-19 Updates
A total of 115 people tested positive for COVID-19 overnight and another 128 recovered. Malta now has 1,407 active cases of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the first person in Gozo received the Covid-19 vaccine today.
Bars, clubs are expected to remain close past New Year
The closure of bars and clubs is expected to be extended past January 1, sources have told Times of Malta. Bars and clubs have been shut since the end of October, when the government introduced new restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
It was initially planned that bars and other entertainment venues would be able to reopen at the beginning of December.
Just days before that deadline, Prime Minister Robert Abela had announced the closure would be extended to the end of the year, saying the decision had been taken following consultation with Health Minister Chris Fearne.
Updated 0930 Newspaper review
L-Orizzont reports that the 200 companies have renewed a permit from the employment relations department to temporarily reduce conditions for workers to protect jobs. More than 1,000 companies had applied for the permit at the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Times asks Prime Minister Robert Abela to explain claims that he sought information about the Opposition Leader’s tax situation from the Commissioner for Revenue. Abela denied the allegations and said he only reported Bernard Grech to the tax chief over dues.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Bernard Grech who challenged the Prime Minister to publish his tax returns and declare whether he has ever discussed his VAT situation with the tax commissioner.
The Independent speaks to the president of the hotels and restaurants association Tony Zahra who said that demand for outdoor dining was low this festive season compared with recent years.
The Times says that the legal notice closing bars and clubs is expected to remain in effect into the new year. The Chamber of SMEs said that business owners are growing anxious because of the uncertainty.
The Independent says that the court has ordered the prosecution team in the Caruana Galizia murder case to hand over information about a series of phone call intercepts to defendant Yorgen Fenech.
L-Orizzont speaks with Voluntary Organisations Commission Dr Anthony Abela Medici who said that the sector has been the hardest hit by Covid-19 because they depend on donations and fundraising activities.
In-Nazzjon reports the death of five Covid-19 patients between Sunday and Monday, raising the total number of casualties to 2015. The most recent victims, three women and two men, were aged between 77 and 95.
Morning Briefing
PM admits handing info on Bernard Grech to Tax Commissioner
Prime Minister Robert Abela admitted on Monday that he handed over information to Marvin Gaerty, the Tax Commissioner, that Opposition Leader Bernard Grech had not paid taxes for years. However, he denied that he discussed Grech’s tax affairs with Gaerty.
The latter is currently on police bail after he was questioned in connection with a conversation he had with Daphne Caruana Galizia murder suspect Yorgen Fenech in 2014. Abela insisted that the information on Grech’s alleged tax issues were received from within the Nationalist Party, adding that it was his duty to pass on the information to the Commissioner.
In a reaction yesterday evening, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said that Robert Abela confirmed that he had tried to influence the election of the leader of the Nationalist Party in what was tantamount to clear abuse of power.
Police deny PM green light is needed to analyse mobile phones
The Police denied it needs the Prime Minister’s authorisation to acquire or analyse a mobile phone and other technological equipment.
The Police referred to a Sunday Times report on an investigation being carried out by the Financial Investigations Department which, the Police Force said, is moving on without hindrance, even with the participation of the Inquiring Magistrate.
MHRA welcomes vaccine deployment
The MHRA – the hotel and restaurants lobby group – said that the start of the vaccination programme against Covid-19 is Malta’s way out of the pandemic and the dire economic situation globally.
Tony Zahra, its President described it as “incredibly good news as life will be able to return to some normality once the whole population has been vaccinated and herd immunity is achieved. The most important factor, of course, is that we shall be able to see our loved ones again and be able to hug them and hold their hands without fear that unknowingly we might be passing on the virus”. Tony Zahra confirmed that he will definitely take the vaccine as soon as he is invited by the health authorities to take the vaccine.
Zahra added that “I will take the vaccine as i want to show respect and protect my family, my friends and all the people that I come in contact with and finally I want also to have some protection myself from this virus”
Covid-19: The Situation
101 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Monday, with 123 recovering. This brings the total number of cases up to 12,426, with 1,420 still being active. 2,399 tests were carried out the day before.
CDE News
