LOCAL NEWS

Press Conference by Health Superintendent (30th March 1230 hrs)

 Five new cases of coronavirus were registered in the past 24 hours in Malta. These new cases, which all concern Maltese citizens, were identified after 637 swabs were examined across two centres in Malta and one in Gozo.

Three of these cases are related to travel, including a man returning from Mexico and a woman from the UK. Both had immediately self-quarantined. The third case relates to a health care worker, who also returned to work and reported to work for a brief period. The necessary contact tracing is taking place. One of these patients, not identified by Dr Gauci, is currently in Gozo.

The other two cases appear to be locally transmitted, with two Maltese women reporting symptoms last week, having neither travelled nor been in contact with persons which were previously identified as positive. One of these two, a 44-year old, had reported to work and the necessary contact tracing is taking place.

Prof Gauci explained that there are currently five patients in the Infectious Diseases Unit at Mater Dei, 17 at St. Thomas’ Hospital as well as four patients in Intensive Therapy. Malta now has 156 total cases of COVID-positive patients.

Opposition Press Conference (30th March, 1330 hrs)

The Partit Nazzjonalista has put forward a number of initiatives to support households in the handling of the impacts arising out of the Covid-19 Crisis. MP Claudio Grech said that while the Opposition welcomed new measures announced so far by Government, it is coming forward with additional proposals that help safeguard the economy and employment.

MP Grech criticised what he discussed as Government backtracking on a number of safety measures taken last week. “Clear direction of decisions taken were required.” Grech appealed for the general public to observe social distancing as this was an important element in addressing the spreading the virus”.

Grech explained that the new measures are required as social distancing, while crucial, will create additional economic disruption. “The Nationalist Party is keeping in mind first and foremost those households who practically consume what they earn in the same month”.

The Nationalist Party said that Government needs to clarify those employees, irrespective of the industry, who have been materially affected. “Government has been too selective” when identifying affected workers. The Opposition is proposing that the definition is based on businesses having lost 50% or more of their activity or cash flow. This includes creative industries, including the media, particular health sectors, such as physiotherapy. “If Government continues to ignore these sectors, these will suffer irreparable damage”. Moreover, this was creating a health risk, as these persons had no other option than continue trying to return to work.

Other PN proposals, which were explained by MPs Ivan Bartolo and Karl Gouder include:

• Reduce Household Utility Bills by 50% with effect from 9th March 2020
• Support Church, Private Schools and Extra-curricular
• Private Rent
• Housing Authority Rent Moratorium for those living in social
• Financing of  a  programme  for  NGO’s  to  provide  support  to  the elderly  and

vulnerable

• A one-time grant to the elderly to get
• Campaign to avoid abuse in pricing of essential

MEDIA COVERAGE

Timesofmalta.com  Interview – Finance Minister

Malta’s booming economy has ground to a sudden halt due to the coronavirus crisis. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna tells Jacob Borg that the government cannot compensate for all the economic pain that is to come.

Maltatoday

Gozo shadow minister calls for more restrictions on Gozo channel travel

Opposition Gozo shadow minister Chris Said has called upon the government to introduce new restrictive measures on who can cross from Malta to Gozo and vice-versa during the Covid-19 crisis. “In normal situations, we would welcome anyone who comes to Gozo.

But these are not normal times and we have to take all the necessary steps to come out of this difficult situation in the shortest time possible and with the least amount of damage possible,” Said wrote in a Facebook post.

Newsbook

MPA welcomes inclusion of film and TV sectors in COVID-19 measures

The Malta Productions Association (MPA), welcomes the government’s decision to include the film & television industry in the measures announced aimed at those sectors which are suffering financial losses and loss of work productivity due to the coronavirus.

Earlier this month, the Malta Producers Association expressed its disappointment that the Film & Television industry were excluded from the support measures and urged Prime Minister Robert Abela and Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli to recognise all Motion Picture, Video and Television production activities as sectors heavily hit by the coronavirus situation. The association stated that it should have been ‘naturally understood’ that the Film & TV industry would be included as part of the Creative Arts and Entertainment category.

Printed

The Times reports that a record 585 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday. Two persons tested positive, bringing the number of Covid-19 cases in Malta to 151.

The Independent quotes Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci who warned that the situation remains volatile and appealed for vigilance. Prof. Gauci said that the country is at the start of its upwards curve.

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the country finds itself at war that it must overcome together. Delia appealed for people to make a collective effort and follow the instructions of health experts.

L-Orizzont covers a radio interview with Prime Minister Robert Abela who said that if people fail to observe directives today, we will  not enjoy summer this  year. Abela appealed for people to protect the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

The Independent reports that 22 companies and consortia have shown interest in bidding for the government call for a pre-fabricated hospital. The highest bid is €29 million and the lowest one is €4 million.

L-Orizzont quotes Education Minister Owen Bonnici who said that he is proud that teachers are doing everything they can in the situation. The minister was reacting to criticism by Kristina Chetcuti.

Editorials

The Times of Malta’s Editorial recommends advanced planning for our law enforcement agencies – while noting that the social situation (crime, homelessness) has been kept under control so far, things should not be taken for granted. It was therefore imperative that contingency planning takes place, which involves comprehensive prior training, the availability of appropriate crowd control equipment and the most judicious planning.

The Independent chooses to focus on certain positive elements which have been borne out of the current situation and limited lifestyle. It calls for these positives to be maintained after the crisis, notably the efforts to spend more time with our loved ones, spending time doing creative stuff with children, keeping fit at home and generally not being obsessed with work. These small changes in our daily attitudes would be conducive to be a healthier lifestyle.

L-Orizzont puts its lens on two elements of the crisis, the health and educational aspect. On the former, the paper welcomes the reassuring statement made by a high-ranking official of the World Health Organisation pinpointing Malta as an example to follow in the way it is tackling the crisis. With regard to Education, it also welcomes the decisions taken by the relevant authorities to postpone exams and to give students the possibility to sit for the Ordinary and Advanced Levels in September.

In-Nazzjon argues that Government will need to borrow and invest more in support schemes to assist the ailing economy. It defends such borrowing as justified in the current circumstances. It refers to actions being taken in this regard by other countries, and calls on the Maltese Government to follow accordingly to safeguard businesses and employment.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EasyJet grounds its entire fleet

Britain’s biggest airline by passenger numbers, easyJet, has grounded its entire fleet of 344 aircraft. The Luton-based airline says its last flight operated on Sunday 29 March and there will be no further departures anywhere in Europe until further notice.

It attributes the shutdown to “unprecedented travel restrictions imposed by governments in response to the coronavirus pandemic”.

While easyJet has given no date for re-starting commercial operations, the airline says it has agreed with the Unite union to furlough all its UK-based cabin crew during April and May.

Crew will be paid 80 per cent of their average pay through the government’s job- retention scheme.

Large increase in new confirmed cases in Cyprus

The Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Sunday said the large increase in new confirmed cases of Covid-19 was of particular concern.

In a written statement shortly after ministry advisers announced one new death and 35 new cases, Ioannou said the large increase in confirmed cases was of particular concern as contact tracing revealed that the virus has been transmitted through a family environment by individuals who had not restricted themselves.

“In order for the effort to work, we must drastically limit our contacts. Unfortunately, many do not understand the seriousness of the situation and continue to behave irresponsibly,” he added.

EU Corner

Brussels seeks to unlock a corona-fighting budget

Discussions inside the commission on how the draft MFF could be overhauled are at an early stage, but officials are aiming to come up with new proposals within weeks. The guiding idea will be to find ways of leveraging the EU’s funds to produce trillions of euros of investment, helping prevent a long-lasting recession that further corrodes support for the EU and energises political extremism.

One senior EU official said that Brussels could deliver trillions of euros of investment by leveraging up spending of around half a percentage point of GNI using a multiplier of 15. The money would remain targeted at EU priorities including the Green Deal over the course of the seven-year budget, but the goal would be unlocking growth and investment rapidly starting in 2021.

More News:

For a Fact-Checked Aggregated Service of CoVid-19 related information, please visit: https://corporatedispatch.com/category/coronavirus/

Additional info

Helplines

111 – For those who feel symptoms of COVID-19 or who wish further information

21411 411 – For those in mandatory quarantine who require provisions of food and medicine

1772 – For those who are feeling lonely.

153 – For those who require information about the financial measures administered by the Department for Social Security.

144 – For those who require information about the financial measures administered by Malta Enterprise.

2204 2200 – For Maltese residents who were caught in one of the high-risk countries and wish to return to Malta

25981000 – For those who have questions about the educational sector and the impact of the coronavirus

21692447–  For  hoteliers  and  tourists  who  have  questions  about  the  announced measures.

5903030 – For elderly persons bereft of support who need medicines, ready-made meals or food products (fruit and vegetables).

25469111 – For those who work in the gaming industry.

This daily update bulletin is being compiled for the Chamber of Advocates by CI Consulta from Corporate ID Group. CI Consulta delivers policy research and analysis, evaluations and impact assessments up to policy implementation and integration