LOCAL NEWS
Press Conference by Health Superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci (6th May, 1230)
In her daily briefing, Prof Charmaine Gauci said that out of 1,392 tests, two new positive cases were identified, taking Malta’s count to 482. Four persons have recovered, meaning that 407 people are Covid-free, leaving 72 active cases.
The two cases include a 30-year old Maltese woman who was not currently working. The second case concerns a Filipino carer who was in contact with the 81-year old who passed away yesterday. 15 patients from the same ward, and 56 other members of staff or persons in contact with this persons all resulted as negative.
Prof Gauci also gave an update on the situation at Hal Far village, where 50 immigrants were found positive. She said that 21 persons have fully recovered and withdrawn from quarantine. Another 19 had also tested free of the virus but will remain for a further seven days in quarantine. The other 10, who are still positive, remain under observation.
The Health Superintendent welcomed the fact that from on-site verification it transpired that generally businesses and the general public were cooperating on the social distancing requirements and use of face masks.
EU Spring Forecast: Report on Malta – Highlights prepared by CI Consulta’s EU Division
Malta’s economic growth will take, as expected, a significant hit due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Private consumption and trade are projected to take a significant hit, while increased public spending should partially mitigate the effects of the recession. Employment is forecast to decline temporarily and the unemployment rate to increase. The government’s balance is expected to slip into deficit and public debt to rise, as the government takes fiscal measures to offset the crisis.
Malta is expected to fare better than the eurozone average with the Commission seeing a combined 7.7% loss across the region. However, the report notes that even before the onset of the pandemic the rate of economic growth had eased, despite remaining in positive territory due to a strong performance by industry and the construction industry.
While exports had suffered in previous months, tourism more than made up for any losses in the former.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Timesofmalta.com
Selected roads to be temporarily pedestrianised as part of open spaces project Selected public squares and main roads will be closed to traffic for stretches of time on certain days, as part of an initiative to create open spaces in town and village cores.
The initiative was announced by Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, Local Government Minister Jose Herrera on Wednesday and Local Councils Association president Mario Fava.
Through collaboration with Transport Malta, this initiative will see to the closure of squares and main roads for a period of time on certain days, deviating traffic to other roads.
Local councils interested in taking part in the initiative can register their interest with the LCA, which is coordinating the project.
Independent
VAT on masks, face shields to go down to 5% – Economy Minister
VAT on face masks and face shields will go down to 5% from the standard 18% through a legal notice which should be published today, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said on Wednesday.
Asked by The Malta Independent to confirm whether, in spite of the government’s price cap on these items, those importing them still had to pay VAT and customs taxes in full on the original price, Schembri said that while they were taxed with an 18% VAT, Cabinet had taken a decision to lower that VAT to 5%.
Printed
Malta Today leads with the death of an 81-year-old man who tested positive to Covid- 19 on Monday. The patient, who was being treated at Karin Grech Hospital, is the fifth coronavirus casualty since the start of the outbreak.
The Independent says that the elderly man who died from the coronavirus between Monday and Tuesday was being treated for other complications including respiratory and kidney problems.
In-Nazzjon reports that there have been 403 confirmed recoveries from 482 Covid-19 patients, with 77 cases still active. Public Health Superintendent Charmain Gauci appealed for people to exercise caution even if the numbers are going down.
L-Orizzont says that restaurants are planning to start reopening shortly, although with a restricted seating capacity. The paper says that Covid-19 trends in Malta reflect those of most countries in the EU.
The Times reveals that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is advising his successor on economic recovery plans. Muscat was seen emerging from Castille after an “hours-long” meeting on Monday night.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN spokesperson for tourism Robert Arrigo who proposed a €2 billion fund over the next 18 months to help the tourism industry back on its feet. Arrigo argued that tourism is one of the main pillars of the county’s economy.
Editorials
The Independent describes the upcoming Summer as a tough one for Malta’s artists, with so many events, such as Isle of MTV, Tomorrowland, Beer Festival, Ghana Fest, the Jazz Festival all cancelled or postponed.These events, in addition to the countless other large parties that would normally take place in summer, offer a strong financial stream for the music industry on the island, and the situation is most definitely going to have a negative financial effect on the local talents.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Donald Trump concedes more will die in reopening US economy
President Donald Trump conceded that more Americans will die in reopening the US economy but underlined his insistence on a dwindling coronavirus threat by refusing to wear a mask, even as he toured a mask-making factory.
Asked by ABC News whether a lifting of social distancing measures and reopening of the shuttered economy will lead to higher death tolls, Mr Trump said “it’s possible there will be some”.
“Because you won’t be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is,” Mr Trump said at the Honeywell factory in Phoenix, Arizona, which he visited on his first major trip since lockdown began. “Will some people be affected badly? Yes,” he admitted earlier at the factory. “But we have to get our country open.”
EU Corner
EU Spring Forecast: General EU Report – Highlights prepared by CI Consulta’s EU Division
The European Commission is forecasting a 5.75% contraction in Malta’s GDP, but the economy is expected to recover more than well with a solid 6% in 2021. The EU believes that the strong labour market, the large ongoing infrastructural projects and households’ high saving rate may cushion the crisis’ impact on consumption.
Understandably, the EU notes that Malta’s success or failure does not depend on local policy on its own, since Malta’s economy is highly sensitive to global uncertainties and the growth performance of its trading partners. Their economic development in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic may weigh on Malta’s exports and pace of recovery more strongly than assumed in this forecast.
The fast pace of economic growth in Malta led to a record-low unemployment rate of 3.5% in 2019, but in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the temporary closure of tourism- related activities is set to have a harsh impact on employment. Despite the financial aid made available to employees and the government’s measures to cushion the impact on corporates, the unemployment rate is projected to increase to around 6% in 2020 before decreasing again in 2021 to 4.5 %.
The EU is also forecasting a decline in the cost of living, particularly as it is expecting a decrease in a fall in fuel prices in 2020.
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.
