LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
No new cases were identified in the past 24 hours, with just under 1,000 people tested. Health authorities posted this updated on social media.
With nine persons having recovered during the same timeframe, Malta now has 75 active cases.
Just over 69,000 swab tests have been carried out so far.
PM Abela announces re-opening of airports, bars and gyms
Prime Minister Robert Abela this morning announced that Malta’s airport and ports will re-open on 1st July. Gyms and bars will open this Friday. This announcement was made on Labour media.
He also announced that a multi-million budget will be launched on 8th June.
Prime Minister Abela ruled out any early election, yet at the same time announced an amnesty for those people who were fined in the past days.
The Prime Minister said that people who have been fined will be given an amnesty. “These people are not criminals and if they have already paid their fine, they can apply for a refund.”
#MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Charmaine Gauci is the most trusted for COVID-19 updates
Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci is by far the most trusted of the public officials providing updates and information on the COVID-19 outbreak, a survey commissioned by Times of Malta has found.
The survey found that 92% of the Maltese trust Gauci to deliver reliable and accurate information on the virus and how to contain it.
Health Minister Chris Fearne, a surgeon and deputy prime minister, also scores high, with a trust rating of 82%.
Prime Minister Robert Abela, a lawyer, was significantly less trusted when it comes to giving information on the virus, with 60% saying they believed him.
Gauci, Fearne, and Abela have been addressing regular joint press conferences with updates on measures to contain the virus.
The Malta Independent
Last week saw lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since pandemic hit Malta – Vincent Marmara
The weekly number of new cases of COVID-19 in Malta was at its lowest last week since the pandemic hit Malta, statistician Vincent Marmara explained to The Malta Independent on Sunday.
In his exclusive weekly vlog, Marmara said that the decrease also meant that even the percentage of new cases against how many swab tests were carried out was the lowest since the first case was found on 7 March – almost three months ago.
Only 0.2% of swab tests carried out over the past week resulted in positive cases, Marmara noted. This compares favourably with the previous week – where the number stood at 0.7% and represented something of an increase over the weeks prior.
As of Saturday, Malta had registered 618 cases of the virus. 525 of those have recovered, while 9 have passed away – leaving 84 currently active cases.
Out of those 618 cases, however, only 18 were found in the last eight days, with half of those being found on 23 May. Last week saw two days where no news cases of the virus were found.
Printed
Malta Today revealed that the government is prepared to break up Air Malta and transfer operations to a new company if negotiations with the pilots’ union fail. ALPA members are revisiting drastic pay cuts sought by the airline.
The Sunday Times carries an interview with a family member of Vince Muscat, one of the three suspected hitmen in the Caruana Galizia assassination. The unnamed relative questioned action taken by the police following information given by the suspect.
The Independent on Sunday reports that the police have charged four people and fined 43 others for breaking social distancing rules in a spontaneous gathering celebrating the announcement of Floriana FC’s football league victory on Monday.
It-Torċa carries an interview with Energy Minister Michael Farrugia who said that the government is working on a new economic plan. He said that all necessary decisions will be taken to take businesses forward.
Illum follows an interview with PN Leader Adrian Delia by independent journalist Albert Gauci Cunningham Delia called for caution over relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and said that the economy can only be healthy if people are healthy.
The Sunday Times publishes results survey results which indicate that the 54 percent of residents want more Covid-19 measures to be eased. The majority of those surveyed, however, are against the reopening of the airport or the creation of a travel bubble.
The Independent on Sunday says that a magisterial inquiry into the deaths of migrants in Maltese waters has cleared the Prime Minister, the armed forces commander and the crew of an AFM patrol boat of any involvement.
Malta Today reports on the publication of a 491-page inquiry rejecting allegations that AFM members have sabotaged a migrant vessel. The complaint was filed by NGO Repubblika and the inquiry was led by Magistrate Joe Mifsud.
It-Torċa quotes a government statement which said that the denunciations against the Prime Minister and the Armed Forces over the deaths of migrants at sea “were not based on proof”. The government said that Malta honoured all its obligations under international law.
Malta Today says that a United Nations panel was not convinced by explanations by Maltese arms dealer James Fenech that he was leasing two rigid hull inflatable boats to an oil and gas project in Libya. The panel believes the RHIBs were contracted by general Khalifa Haftar.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Scotland’s Sturgeon says lockdown easing must be very cautious
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday she agreed with scientists that any easing of the coronavirus lockdown must be very cautious after some of those advising government said Britain was moving too quickly.
Asked whether she thought that politicians were no longer following scientific advice, Sturgeon told Sky News: “I agree with the opinion that has been expressed over the weekend that we’ve got to be very cautious. This virus hasn’t gone away, there is still a significant risk that it could run out of control again.”
WHO releases new guidance for outdoor events and mass gatherings
The World Health Organization released new guidance for mass gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic, recommending a number of possible changes to large events — once they’re allowed to take place.
Holding gatherings outdoors, limiting attendance to healthy people and staggering arrivals could all help limit the spread of the virus, according to the guidance.
“In the context of Covid-19, mass gatherings are events that could amplify the transmission of the virus and potentially disrupt the host country’s response capacity,” the guidance said. But it said large events offered benefits, too, such as providing employment and boosting psychological well-being.
“Since mass gatherings have substantial political, cultural, social, and economic implications, authorities should assess the importance and necessity of an event and consider the option that it may take place, provided all associated public health risks are adequately addressed and mitigated,” the guidance said.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU
The European Union urged the United States on Saturday to reconsider its decision to cut ties with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the face of this global threat, now is the time for enhanced cooperation and common solutions. Actions that weaken international results must be avoided,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said in a statement.
“In this context, we urge the U.S. to reconsider its announced decision,” they said a day after President Donald Trump announced the move, accusing the U.N. agency of becoming a puppet of China.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also condemned the move and pledged intensive talks with Washington on the issue.
The decision is “the wrong signal at the wrong time,” Maas told German media group Funke. With the number of infections continuing to rise globally, “we cannot tear down the dike in the middle of a storm”, he said.
The EU has led calls for a review of the international response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the U.N. agency’s performance.
Finally, the Commission is proposing a new Strategic Investment Facility built into InvestEU, to generate investments of up to €150 billion, thanks to a contribution of €15 billion from Next Generation EU, to boost the resilience of strategic sectors, notably those linked to the green and digital transition, and key value chains in the internal market.
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.
