LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
Nine new cases of coronavirus in Malta were registered yesterday from a total of 1,727 tests, taking the country’s total to 609.
Four persons have recovered during the same timeframe, meaning that the number of active cases has now gone up to 130. 473 persons have recovered, with six people losing their life.
This information was provided by the Ministry of Health through its social media platforms.
#MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Timesofmalta.com
Coronavirus testing centre worker tests positive
A worker at a coronavirus testing centre has been infected with the virus, public health authorities said on Saturday.
Swab test workers wear full protective gear during their shifts and it is likely that the worker was infected while in the community, they added.
The worker’s protective gear also means that anyone who visited the centre for testing is not at risk.
The person showed no COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive following a routine swab test carried out on all healthcare workers.
Public health authorities said the testing centre the healthcare worker works at – which was not identified – has since been thoroughly disinfected and is operating as normal.
Outdoor sports facilities reopen with COVID-19 restrictions
As from Saturday, hundreds of outdoor sports facilities which had been closed for two months due to the COVID-19 outbreak have reopened.
But for the time being, athletes are only being allowed to train in groups of six.
On Friday the government published a set of guidelines outlining the gradual reopening of open-air facilities including football pitches. Training has been restricted to groups of up to six athletes including coaches, who must remain two to three metres apart depending on the discipline.
Maximum capacity has been restricted to one person per 20 square metres of available space. Athletes cannot borrow any equipment from each other.
Independent
‘Limited’ schedule expected on resumption of flights, situation still fluid
Upcoming flight schedules are expected to be “limited” and the number of routes and flights depend on a number of fluid factors, reports the Independent. The paper says it has been informed that MIA could axe dozens of routes in its Winter 2020 and Summer 2021 schedules, as the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry are expected to drag on well into next year. Malta is discussing opening ‘safe corridors’ with other countries that have successfully managed the Covid-19 pandemic, but tourism operators have been warned that the number of routes operated to and from Malta could be drastically reduced in the coming months.
An MIA spokesperson said the airport is in constant talks with its partner airlines and is monitoring any developments closely.
“We expect our schedule to be limited when we resume operations. However, given the fluidity of the situation, we still need to assess the full impact of this crisis on our airline and route network.”
Printed
The Times reveals that a former assistant police commissioner who resigned in 2018 following a report of domestic abuse is one of the applicants to head the police force. Mario Tonna was accused of head-butting his partner during an argument and a police investigation was launched.
The Independent quotes former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar who had indicated that investigations against disgraced assistant commissioner Mario Tonna would continue even though he resigned from the force.
L-Orizzont says that one new Covid-19 infection was registered on Friday from more than 1,500 swab tests. Another patient was confirmed recovered by the authorities keeping the number of active cases at 125.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who warned that if Malta fails the Moneyval test, thousands of jobs will be at risk. Delia said that the Prime Minister must choose between protecting those who harmed the county’s reputation or our children’s future.
The Independent speaks to a Malta International Airport spokesperson who said that only limited flight schedules are expected to be resumed in the short-term while the actual routes depend on a number of ‘fluid’ factors.
L-Orizzont speaks to restaurant owners who said that it was ‘a fair decision’ by the government to allow businesses to reopen this weekend. The paper says that a series of measures by the tourism authority came into effect from yesterday.
The Times speaks to a hairdresser who opened her salon for the first time after ten weeks on Friday. She said that new protective measures cost her hundreds of euros but felt that authorities have not offered enough clarity regarding the situation.
L-Orizzont announces that consultations are underway to allow visits to homes for the elderly, which might restart as from the coming Monday. New instructions will likely be put in place to safeguard the residents.
Recommended Read:
Corporate Dispatch’s special contributor today is Lawrence Zammit. In his message “Calling for Change”, he argues that monetary gains will not be the only measurement for our economy post-Covid. This is why we need to determine what type of economy we would like to have after COVID-19 as we cannot go back to the way were. COVID-19 has changed people’s moods, attitudes, perceptions, behaviours.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Portugal says ready to welcome back tourists
Portugal’s doors are open to tourists, the country’s Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said on Friday, one of the first European countries to welcome back visitors from elsewhere in the continent.
“Tourists are welcome in Portugal,” Santos Silva told newspaper Observador, explaining that some health checks will be introduced at airports but there will be no compulsory quarantine for those flying in.
Portugal, which has so far recorded 30,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,289 deaths, is slowly easing restrictions in place since it locked down in mid-March.
It has been less affected than its neighbour Spain or Italy, which both plan to reopen next month.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU
EU launches new tool for tracking measures to mitigate social, economic impact of COVID-19
Governments, social partners, businesses and other institutions have moved swiftly to implement measures to control the spread of COVID-19 across Europe and to mitigate the social and economic impact of the pandemic. In order to track these diverse initiatives across Europe, Eurofound – the EU’s Agency for the improvement of living and working conditions – has launched COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, a new database collating and mapping the policy responses introduced in Member States, along with the UK and Norway, during this critical period.
In the space of just a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed working life across the globe, placing enormous strain on businesses and workers. Many companies turned to short-time work schemes, re-orienting of working arrangements or the shutting down of operations to comply with the necessary social distancing requirements. Consequently, a growing number of businesses have come under threat, putting the jobs of more and more workers at risk. Policymakers – including governments, support institutions, social partners and other social actors – moved swiftly to mitigate the social and economic consequences of these measures on businesses and workers.
More News:
For a Fact-Checked Aggregated Service of CoVid-19 related information, please visit: https://corporatedispatch.com/category/coronavirus/
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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.
