LOCAL NEWS
Press Conference by Health Superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci (12th April, 1230)
1,041 swabs were taken yesterday, resulting in 8 positive cases. Malta now has 378 cases.
The health authorities have now carried in excess of 17,000 swabs. One cases related to travel, with a 61 year old man returning to Malta through a repatriation flight earlier this feel. He had been experiencing symptoms prior to the boarding the flight. The necessary contact tracing is taking place.
The other cases were locally transmitted. These concerned three men – among them a 74-year old Gozitan, and two women.
Two further cases were registered at Hal Far Centre were identified following 23 tests carried out among immigrants. Both men, who are in their twenties, had not shown any symptoms.
Sacrifice and discipline needed to return to normality – PM Abela
“Today is a day we celebrate; however we must ensure sacrifice and discipline. We will return to normality if everyone follows the directives being issued”. Prime Minister Robert Abela was speaking on Labour’s television station, recalling how Malta was facing a silent war.
He referred to the recent decision to close off Maltese ports, insisting that there was no racial motivation in this decision and it simply follows similar decisions which restricted travelling in and out of Malta as well as between the islands. “We are prioritising the health of the Maltese and Gozitan public – this interest was taken in the common good.” Returning to the pandemic, Abela said that Malta had looked at what happened in other countries and took the necessary pro-active actions, hence managing to keep cases at a low level. PM Abela also said that Government had received positive reactions by businesses on the economic package announced in relation to the effects of the pandemic.
Recoveries reach 44
“Some good news on Easter Sunday”, announced Health Minister Chris Fearne this morning on Twitter, as 28 more patients have recovered in Malta and Gozo. 44 persons in total have now recovered. Fearne repeated his appeal to Stay In, Stay Safe.
Inspections on quarantine and gatherings
One person was found breaking obligatory quarantine during the 272 inspections carried out in the last 24 hours. 34 persons were fined €100 each during the continuous patrols that the Police are doing to ensure that there are no groups of more than 3 persons gathered in public places, as per the legal notice issued by the government. directives being issued by the authorities
Around 500 cars were not allowed to board the ferry to Gozo, Minister Clint Camilleri said.
In a Facebook post, the Minister explained that this refusal took place after the passengers were screened and the trip considered as unnecessary.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Timesofmalta.com
‘My father was diagnosed with COVID-19, died and was buried in hours’
A Maltese man who lost his father to coronavirus in a matter of hours is ruing the fact that he could not even bid him farewell.
The 84-year-old was among 20 who tested positive to COVID-19 on Friday. Hours later his 60-year-old son received the traumatic phone call from Mater Dei Hospital: his father had become the third victim of the virus in Malta.
“My father’s burial took place less than six hours after his death,” he said.
Maltatoday
Cabin crew agree to wage cut, but Air Malta warns trust ‘severely dented’
Air Malta’s cabin crew have agreed to the airline’s proposals for a wage cut in light of a reduced schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The national carrier, however, lamented that the agreement had only come after it had given the Union of Cabin Crew (UCC) multiple deadlines, and warned that trust had been damaged as a result.
Air Malta said that the UCC’s acceptance of proposals for salaries to be reduced to €1,200 for a four-week period was “no longer sufficient to give the company the reassurances it requires”.
It said it had informed the cabin crew that a longer-term solution was needed from both the UCC and the pilot’s union, ALPA.
Independent
Transition team set up to take care of medical appointments backlog – Fearne
The Health Ministry has put together a transition team that will be in charge of handling all medical appointments which have been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Malta and provide a contingency plan for a way forward, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on this week’s edition of INDEPTH.
The interview, carried out by media consultant Rachel Attard, centred on the COVID-19 situation in Malta, the measures that the health authorities have introduced and the impact this pandemic has had on other medical services, especially at Mater Dei Hospital.
Newsbook
500 cars kept from travelling to Gozo – Minister
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri announced that around 500 cars were refused entry into Gozo in the past two days.
On Facebook, Camilleri said that the Gozo Channel officials kept around 500 cars from taking the ferry as after they had been screened, their trip was considered as unnecessary.
He urged the public to cooperate.
Among the directives issued by the Government, unnecessary trips between Malta and Gozo have been forbidden to control the outbreak of coronavirus.
Corporatedispatch.com
Malta’s President forfeits one month’s salary; frees up his chefs to cook up meals for health-care workers at Mater Dei Hospital
President George Vella has forfeited one month’s salary and freed up his chefs to cook up meals for health-care workers at Mater Dei Hospital to help authorities in their fight against coronavirus.
In a gesture of solidarity with coronavirus frontliners, the staff at San Anton Palace’s kitchen have been cooking meals and sending them to the national hospital.
President Vella has also given up one month’s salary in a symbolic gesture to help boost the government’s coffers to fight COVID-19.
Printed
The Sunday Times publishes an interview with the son of the elderly patient who died of Covid-19 on Friday. The man said that his father died soon after he was diagnosed and was buried merely six hours later.
The Independent on Sunday publishes an interview with Health Minister Chris Fearne who said that a transition team has been set up to oversee the rescheduling of hospital appointments that have had to be postponed because of the spread.
Illum conducts an exercise that shows how prices for medical products like disposable gloves and masks have soared in the last weeks. Pharmacies said that prices are being raised by wholesalers.
Kullħadd says that measures taken by the government are helping to rescue jobs in the private sector. The paper says that people registering for unemployment benefits increased to around 2,000.
It-Torċa carries an interview with Environment and Planning Minister Aaron Farrugia who said that the ministry is working on a new system for ‘intelligent planning’ with regards to applications for development in ODZ areas.
Il-Mument quotes an address by PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that everyone must be united in the country’s resolve to overcome the epidemic. He appealed for everyone to stay indoors and safe.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to Police Inspector Kylie Borg who said that there was no significant increase in domestic abuse cases reports since the calls by authorities for the general public to remain indoors.
Illum says that property market has ground to a halt amid the Covid-19 emergency and reports that real estate agents are requesting support. The paper speaks to Agents Association chief Douglas Salt who said that many agents have lost everything.
Il-Mument reports that the government has received new calls for the disembarkation of migrants stranded at sea. A boat and a rescue ship are carrying more than 200 migrants between them in Maltese waters.
It-Torċa says that praise by the World Health Organisation for Malta’s preparedness for the coronavirus reflects the dedication of health services professionals as well as the competence of the government.
Il-Mument says that Air Malta employees expressed anger the government’s failure to rescue jobs with the company while other individuals are making “tens of thousands” of euros off the national carrier.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UN calls on European countries not to return asylum seekers to Libya
The United Nations has called on the European countries to end the suffering of asylum seekers rescued in the Mediterranean, and not to return them to Libya.
The Libyan Observer reports that in a statement made by the spokesman of the United Nations Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that at least six boats have left the Libyan coast since the beginning of this month.
About 500 immigrants were on board these boats according to estimates of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Dujarric said that many European countries have tightened the grip on their borders in an attempt to contain the coronavirus epidemic. He emphasized the need for measures to combat the epidemic in line with the principles of international law, insisting that priority should be given to protecting the most vulnerable.
Easter is not cancelled – Coronavirus will not overcome us – Queen Elizabeth
Easter is not cancelled and is needed as much as ever, the Queen has said, as she urges Britain to take heart from its message of hope to know that coronavirus “will not overcome us”.
The Telegraph reports that the Queen, a committed Christian and the head of the Church of England, said the Easter message is one of “new hope and fresh purpose”, with the forces of “light and life” overcoming those of darkness and death.
“As darkness falls on the Saturday before Easter Day, many Christians would normally light candles together. In church, one light would pass to another, spreading slowly and then more rapidly as more candles are lit.
“It’s a way of showing how the good news of Christ’s resurrection has been passed on from the first Easter by every generation until now.”
Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the British public, unable to join their church congregations or see their families under lockdown conditions, she said: “This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe.”
EU Corner
No turning back
MEP Miriam Dalli says that the European Commission, with the approval of the European Parliament. started proposing and approving drastic measures for the whole of the EU. The reality is that there is so much that the EU can do, but for that to happen all 27 EU leaders have to agree to it. The European Commission is so far seemingly maximizing the tools it has to help Member States but we need different rules for exceptional circumstances.
More News:
For a Fact-Checked Aggregated Service of CoVid-19 related information, please visit: https://corporatedispatch.com/category/coronavirus/
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