Covid-19

Malta: Good Samaritan Hospital rebuts ‘unfounded claims’ on COVID-19 safety protocols

The Good Samaritan Hospital has rebutted “unfounded claims” that it was putting patients at risk, after Oppositions MPs alleged the hospital was not observing COVID-19 safety protoocls. Hospital owner Louis…

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COVID-19 and natural disasters: €823 million in EU aid for eight member states

On Tuesday, Parliament approved €823 million in EU aid for the Croatia earthquake, floods in Poland, and the response to the coronavirus crisis in seven EU countries. The €823 million…

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Malta: Deputy PM replies about Covid-19 situation in Malta

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne has stressed that in regard to the pandemic situation, the Government is acting in a transparent manner and for this reason is…

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Malta: MAM condemns ‘baseless’ judicial protest filed against Fearne & Prof. Gauci

The Medical Association of Malta, MAM, strongly condemns the judicial protest lodged in court opposing the current measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta. Both Mr Chris Fearne and…

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Malta: Mothers and medical staff clash over use of facemasks during childbirth

Pregnant women have raised concerns about a policy introduced at Mater Dei Hospital which demands they wear masks during childbirth, even if they tested negative for COVID-19. Over 1,200 persons…

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Malta: Pallbearers in full PPE banned from churches

Pallbearers at the funeral of COVID-19 victims cannot walk into church wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE), according to new regulations issued by the Catholic church. Instead, they must leave the…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta says the built heritage needs more defence, calling for the restructuring of the scheduling system and a review of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage The Independent…

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Australia may see first week of no local COVID-19 transmissions

Australia’s three most populous states on Saturday recorded at least a week with no local transmissions of the new coronavirus, boding well for the country’s recovery from the pandemic after…

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Malta: Ħal Qormi Mayor Renald Falzon dies

The death has been announced of Ħal Qormi Mayor Renald Falzon at the age of 46 years. Qormi Local Council posted on Facebook that it is grateful for everything the…

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EU approves contract with BioNTech-Pfizer alliance to ensure access to a potential Covid-19 vaccine

On Wednesday, the European Commission approved a fourth contract with pharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Pfizer, which provides for the initial purchase of 200 million doses on behalf of all EU…

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EU speeds up delivery of €8 billion in aid to farmers

Parliament and Council reached a provisional deal on Tuesday on an EU recovery package for farmers, food producers and rural areas that should boost their resilience. The political agreement still…

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Malta: News of COVID-19 vaccine sparks renewed hope among hospitality industry

There is renewed hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has said, reacting to the announcement that a COVID-19 vaccine…

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Malta: 80 critically ill Covid-19 patients at Mater Dei hospital- MAM

In a statement, the MAM said that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Tourism did not understand the gravity of the situation we are in as a result of…

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European organisations launch €280 million financing initiative to support Covid-19 impacted business

As part of Team Europe’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, eleven members of EDFI, the Association of European Development Finance Institutions, are strengthening cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB)…

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Malta: Rise in virus cases within three homes for the elderly, Gauci says

Almost 90 new COVID-19 cases detected this week are of elderly residents at three care homes, Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci said on Friday. Gauci said that the 85 patients…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta looks at the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit's fine to Lombard Bank. The €340,058 fine comes after the bank breached five anti-money laundering provisions. It says Malta's…

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Second Covid-19 wave disrupts EU economic recovery

Economic rebound was interrupted as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe, the European Commission found. Economic activity in Europe suffered a severe shock in the first half…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta reacts to reports that Malta Financial Services Authority chief Joseph Cuschieri travelled to Las Vegas with murder suspect Yorgen Fenech. It calls for his resignation and…

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Malta: COVID-19 rapid testing commenced today

COVID-19 rapid testing commenced today with the result being announced just after a few minutes. This is taking at Boffa Hospital in Floriana for health workers, passenger arrivals at Luqa…

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Covid-19 2nd Wave – The Dramatic Scenario inside Europe’s Hospitals in Pictures

In Europe the picture is unrelentingly grim as a string of countries reported record increases, led by France, which posted more than 50,000 daily cases for the first time on…

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Malta: BOV Gżira and Marsa branches back in service

Bank of Valletta would like to advise its customers that with effect from Wednesday 21st October, it will be reopening its Gżira and Marsa Branches. The Branches were temporarily closed…

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Malta: 10 patients aged between 46 & 76 in ITU due to Coronavirus

The Ministry for Health confirmed with Newsbook.com.mt that 10 patients are currently receiving care in the intensive care unit at Mater Dei Hospital after they contracted coronavirus. A spokesperson for the Ministry…

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Malta: Covid-19 vaccine expected to arrive in January

Health Minister Chris Fearne said a Covid-19 vaccine should be administered to the entire country six months after it is issued. The government predicts that Malta should have an injection…

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Malta: Covid-19 related decisions should be in the hands of health authorities – PN

The government should leave the necessary decisions related to the coronavirus pandemic in the hands of the health authorities, Partit Nazzjonalista said on Monday The PN’s action team on coronavirus…

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Malta: Too little, too late – Forum Unions Maltin about COVID-19 measures

The authorities should implement stronger COVID-19 measures, such as the temporary closure of establishments where people have to congregate indoors, Forum Unions Maltin said on Monday. On Friday, the government said that…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

The Times of Malta says the government has not succeeded in balancing health and economic needs. It says health seems to have taken second place, which is a short-sighted move.…

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Malta: ‘Govt kept 65% of budgetary promises despite Covid-19’ – Scicluna

Minister for Finance and Financial Services Edward Scicluna outlined how the Government kept 65% of its 2020 budget promises despite Covid-19 disruptions. Scicluna was presenting the publication of the 2020…

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Malta: PN to draw up COVID-19 action

The Nationalist Party will be launching an action plan, in light of “the government’s incompetence” in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Opposition leader Bernard Grech said the party has launched…

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Malta: No one allowed to disembark from cruise liner on which there is a possible case of COVID-19

Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said this morning that Maltese authorities were informed that on a cruise liner which was on its way to Malta there was a possible case…

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Malta: Authorities turn to students, retired health workers for contact-tracing help

Authorities have turned to students, trainees and retired health workers asking them to help with contact tracing as the numbers of COVID-19 cases reach record highs. And they have brought…

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Malta: 81% of vouchers have been used, leaving €52.6 million in the economy to date

Th Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that to date the vouchers have left more than €52.6 million in the economy while almost 19% of the vouchers issued have not yet…

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€9.4 billion budget needed for new EU health programme

To fill gaps exposed by COVID-19 and ensure that health systems can face future threats to public health, an ambitious EU health programme is needed, say MEPs. On Wednesday, the…

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Malta: No immediate plan to reduce 14-day quarantine period, health ministry says

Malta has no plans to make changes to its two-week quarantine rules unless advised otherwise by the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the health…

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Malta: Five COVID-19 cases at Luqa civic amenity site

Five workers at Wasteserv’s civic amenity site in Luqa have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the agency to shut all other facilities in Malta. Wasteserv said on Monday that after…

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Malta: ‘False information’ about COVID-19 in schools is causing chaos, says union

Panicked parents are rushing from work to take their children out of school after hearing speculation about COVID-19 outbreaks, a teachers’ union has claimed. The Malta Union of Teachers said…

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Covid-19 is not transmitted to newborn from breast milk

COVID-19 does not get passed on to a newborn from breast milk, according to a study coordinated by Turin's Città della Salute (City of Health) and published in the Frontiers…

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Malta: 85-year-old elderly man dies whilst positive for Covid-19

The Health Ministry has announced the death of an 85-year-old elderly man whilst positive for Covid-19. The patient had been confirmed as positive for Covid-19 on 27 September and on…

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Malta: Covid-19 mortality rate is highest in Europe

Malta’s COVID-19 mortality rate is now the highest in Europe, after shooting up past Spain to reach 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people. In a daily update from the latest figures supplied by…

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Hungary threatens EU’s COVID-19 recovery financing over rule of law

Hungary has refused to grant final approval of the European Union's planned 750 billion euros (669.5 billion pounds) borrowing to spur economic recovery in the bloc from the coronavirus pandemic without guarantees…

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EU donates €400 million to global access cause for Coronavirus vaccine

The European Commission contributed €400 million in guarantees to support the Covid-19 Global Access (COVAX) facility yesterday. The organisation seeks to provide universal access to affordable coronavirus vaccination, treatment and…

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COVID-19 can wipe out health care progress in short order: WHO

More than 90% of countries have seen ordinary health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with major gains in medical care attained over decades vulnerable to being wiped out in a short period, a World Health Organization survey showed. The Geneva-based body has…

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Malta-24 News Briefing – Tuesday 25th August 2020

Updated 1730 - Newspaper ReviewTimes of Malta reports that Steward Health Care Malta had said that it has no objection in principle to government employees working at Gozo General Hospital,…

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