LOCAL NEWS
Press Conference by Health Superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci (28th April, 1230)
In today’s daily briefing, Prof Charmaine Gauci said that 1072 tests were carried out yesterday, resulting in eight new positive cases.
Five of these cases were identified from a further 146 tests carried out at Hal Far Open Centre. The other cases concern two Maltese persons, one of whom a health care worker, and an Englishman.
Malta’s tally has now gone up to 458. On the positive side, the Health Superintendent announced 17 further recoveries were registered, for a total of 303.
Active cases now stand at 151. Only one person remains hospitalised in Intensive Care.
Questioned about vaccines, Prof Gauci argued that despite the research and trials going on, the world was still a long way from producing a vaccine. For the time being, the authorities’ aim will be to reduce infections. She appealed again for people to respect social distancing as failure to do so will endanger the efforts made by the authorities and the general public over the past weeks.
Press Conference Malta Employers Association (28th April, 2.30pm)
While most companies were doing their best efforts to keep all employees, 28% had placed a number of workers on unpaid leave. Only 9% of companies surveyed have so far laid off workers. Malta Employers Association Director General Joseph Farrugia announced this while sharing details of a survey carried out in the past days by the employer body to gauge members’ feedback on the current economic situation and government’s incentives.
Director General Joseph Farrugia said that 346 companies participated in this survey, coming from different economic sectors, including manufacturing, hospitality, retail, gaming and financial services sector, reflecting the wide-ranging membership of the MEA. These companies employ between them around 40,000 employees.
60% of companies surveyed said that all or some of employees have been given a reduced working schedule.
20% of the companies have asked their employees to take all leave available to them. Farrugia said that a number of companies who had terminated jobs’ employees were not covered by Government’s definition of Annex A and B and were therefore not eligible for any assistance.
31% of those who participated in the survey said that should the crisis extend beyond May, they will have to consider redundancies. In this context, the MEA called on Government to extend the current schemes, particularly wage support, to a wider range of companies that have been impacted by the crisis, irrespective of the sector in which they operate.
In order to boost business, the MEA is calling for a temporary revision in VAT rates to help kickstart the economy as well as a reduction in utility tariffs, particularly in consideration of lower energy prices.
On a positive note, Farrugia noted that 18% of the companies took this opportunities to introduce e-commerce facilities.
When asked about government incentives so far, a large chunk of respondents (38%) indicated that the assistance provided was ineffective. Only 18% have found the schemes effective, noted Farrugia, while clarifying that respondents who are currently not eligible for funding could have replied to this particular query.
Another element that transpired from this survey related to difficulties in renewing permits for third country nationals. This can create social problems, insisted Joe Farrugia.
Addressing a recent controversy, Farrugia described as “fake news” reports that the MEA had called for salary cuts throughout the public sector, but merely in those situations, where workers were completely idle.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Timesofmalta.com
Cruise passenger traffic drops by almost half in first three months as COVID-19 brought sector to a halt
Cruise passenger traffic dropped by nearly half in the first quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, figures released by the National Statics Office show.
The NSO said that the total cruise passenger traffic during the first three months amounted to 40,175, a decrease of 48.5%. Malta’s ports were closed in the second week of March as part of travel restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The NSO said that during the first quarter of 2020, there were nine cruise liner calls – this went on until 10 March, after which cruise liners were no longer allowed to berth.
Nine is 12 fewer than the number of cruise liner calls recorded during the same quarter last year.
Independent
70% of self-employed professionals report financial loss of more than 50% – survey
70.3% of self-employed professionals reported a financial loss which exceeds 50% of their usual income as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19, a survey carried out by the Malta Federation of Professional Associations (MFPA) has revealed.
The survey, which was carried out between 30 March and 6 April, looked into the working conditions of professionals and how they have been affected by the Covid-19 situation. A total of 1,163 responses to the survey were received.
65.3% of these respondents were healthcare professionals. 56% were female, while there were three different employment categories: 48.7% were employed, 17.7% employed and with a part-time private practice on the side, and 33.6% self- employed. 53.2% were under 40 years old and 37.5% had children younger than 15 years of age.
The survey found that a staggering 96.9% of self-employed professionals suffered financial losses, and that 70.3% of these professionals suffered losses which were over half their income.
Printed
L-Orizzont reports that the new-born who contracted Covid-19 has recovered from the infection but is being kept in hospital for other conditions. Meanwhile, two new cases tested positive for the disease on Monday.
The Times reveals that the government has appointed a team of advisors to recommend safety measures after social distancing restrictions are eased. Among the proposals are smaller classrooms, fewer covers at restaurants and limited entry into clubs.
L-Orizzont publishes an interview with Fr Hayden Williams who has been living with inmates and wardens at the Corradino Correctional Facility throughout the outbreak. He says that his role is to be present for everyone.
Editorials
The Independent’s Editorial focuses on comments made by former PN Health Minister Joe Cassar who heaped praise on the authorities’ response to the current pandemic from a health perspective. The Editor once again highlights the dedication shown by healthcare professionals in achieving the results seen so far. It also highlights Cassar’s recommendation to parents to ensure that children continue to follow a timetable during these challenging times.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
France PM expecting to announce easing of lockdown this afternoon
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is expected to announce an easing of restrictions this afternoon in Parliament. The French Government has indicated that it will seek to balance the need to get the economy going once again while ensuring maximum safety in terms of public health.
Only 75 of 577 deputies will be allowed into the National Assembly to respect social distancing, with the others voting by proxy.
The restrictive measures have been in place for six weeks, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing earlier this month that any easing of restrictions will not happen prior to 11th May. However, government and health authorities have been very vague on how this will proceed.
“For now, it’s not about getting rid of the virus. It’s about learning to live with it” –
Italian PM
“I know that everyone looks forward to return to normality, but unfortunately the conditions are not yet right – let’s be loud and clear about this.” Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s Prime Minister said this while speaking to journalists in Milan yesterday evening. Conte toured key cities in Lombardy, among them Milan, Bergamo and Brescia, the three cities which have suffered the most in the country.
Quizzed about the re-opening of Churches for Mass, a delicate issue for millions of devoted Italians, Conte said that government was working with the ecclesiastical authorities to identify the best solution for such needs, while respecting maximum security.
EU Corner
MEPs call for concrete details and novel tools to address the economic crisis
MEPs on Monday quizzed Commissioners Dombrovskis and Gentiloni on planned measures to tackle the looming economic crisis due to COVID-19.
Opening the discussion held within the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Committee Chair Irene Tinagli (S&D, IT) underlined that although the measures agreed by the European Council were to be welcomed, more was needed, including fresh funds. “At stake is more than solidarity”, Ms Tinagli said, explaining that “the divergences that risk being created could lead to unprecedented pressure for the European Union”.
The divergences on the horizon were highlighted by both Mr Dombrovskis and Mr Gentiloni, who agreed that this was the primary reason that more measures were needed to help the hardest hit regions and countries.
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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.
