LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
One new case of coronavirus, described as “sporadic”, was identified yesterday, the Health Department said.
554 swab tests were taken on Sunday. There were no recoveries, edging the number of active cases up to 38.
On the 100th day since Malta registered its first case, the total nationwide tally of cases has reached 650.
DPM insists on social distancing norms even after public emergency is withdrawn
In a Press Conference this afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said that all legal notices linked to the Covid-19 pandemic will be withdrawn when the public health emergency declaration will be withdrawn. Repeating the Prime Minister’s position, he noted that “Once the legal notice is removed we will still recommend individuals to continue following guidelines such as wearing masks in big public areas and keeping up hygiene.”
While the Health Minister appeared to avoid sharing his thoughts on the timeliness of this news, he noted that cases in Europe, but not globally, were dropping, insisting that people should remain vigilant.
“When there are big groups of people we still suggest that people to wear masks, if there are big groups try to avoid them, but yes we are beginning to relax our measures.”
In particular, he pleaded to the general public to remain constantly aware and apply social distancing norms.
MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Timesofmalta.com
Israel removed from safe corridor destinations
Israel has been removed from a list of destinations people from Malta can fly to from July 1st.
No reason was given for removing the country from the original ‘safe corridor’ announced in a statement by the Ministry for Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority. It also confirmed details of six new destinations being added, a day after Prime Minister Robert Abela made the announcement.
They are: Italy (except for Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, and Piemonte), France (except for Ile de France), Spain (except for Madrid, Catalonia, Castilla -La Mancha, Castile and Leon), Poland (except for Katowice Airport), Greece and Croatia.
The MTA said that the list of destinations will be monitored regularly and reviewed if necessary.
Israel has had 19,121 cases of coronavirus and 302 deaths, but its death rate per million is lower than other countries on the list such as Italy.
Tvm.com.mt
PM announces lifting of public health state of emergency
Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela has announced the lifting of the public health emergency and the addition of six other destinations by air from 1 July, adding that with effect from 15 July the airport will re-open to all destinations. Dr Abela said Malta is getting back to normal, adding his conviction that by September it will have made great advances in economic renewal.
Dr Abela announced the lifting of the public health emergency and of all legal notices linked to Covid-19, including the removal of the 75-person limit for public gatherings. The Prime Minister further stated that although there will not be any legal obligation on use of masks and social distancing, he urged that people should continue following these guidelines until their eventual removal.
Interviewed on the Labour Party media by three journalists, Dr Abela announced that 1 July will see the addition of Italy except for the north, some regions of Spain, France, Poland, Greece and Croatia to the list of countries for re-introduction of flights to and from Malta. The Prime Minister added that all destinations will re-open with effect from mid-July, further stating the Tourism Authority has a special budget to attract tourism from these countries.
Questioned about the fact that the rate of transmission for Covid-19 has gone up to 1, Dr Abela said he is against alarmist attitudes when Malta was successful in controlling the pandemic.
Speaking about the various measures of the economic regeneration plan, the Prime Minister announced that in the coming days he would be introducing incentives to attract more people to Valletta in order to give a push to business in the capital city. Dr Abela stated he hoped that through the regeneration plan there would not be any need to extend the salaries supplement after September, and added his conviction that by September Malta would have made great strides forward on the economic front because unemployment, as a result of Government incentives, had remained low when compared to what had happened in other countries.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Greece welcomes foreign visitors, restarts summer tourism
Greece reopened its main airports to more international flights on Monday, hoping to kick-start its vital tourism sector after three months in lockdown.
Tourism employs about 700,000 people and accounts for some 20% of Greece’s economic output, so how the sector fares is significant for the country’s recovery. Greece emerged from a decade-long debt crisis two years ago.
About 33 million tourists visited the Mediterranean nation last year, generating revenues of 19 billion euros.
Passengers arriving from airports deemed high-risk by the European Union’s aviation safety agency will be tested for the coronavirus and quarantined up to 14 days, depending on the test result. Restrictions remain for passengers from Britain and Turkey. Arrivals from other airports will be randomly tested.
Restrictions on movement imposed in March helped Greece contain the spread of COVID-19 infections to just above 3,000 cases, a relatively low number compared with other EU countries. But it brought the economy to a standstill.
The conservative government now faces the tough task of opening the country to foreign visitors while allaying public concerns about a new virus outbreak.
From the picturesque island of Santorini, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters on Saturday that his priority is to make Greece the safest destination in Europe.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU
EU state aid regulators to ease bailout rules for small firms, startups
EU competition regulators plan to loosen the bloc’s state aid rules to make it easier for private investors to team up with EU governments to bail out virus-hit start-ups and small companies, and also to allow aid to firms struggling even before the pandemic.
The European Commission said that it would amend its rules to allow private investors to help recapitalise start-ups and small companies, including those in which the state holds a stake.
It said incentives would be provided to private investors to encourage them to take part and to lighten the burden on state coffers.
A separate change would allow state aid offered to small companies that were hit by the coronavirus to be granted also to those that were in trouble before the virus hit.
“This amendment will effectively increase the possibilities to support start-up companies, especially innovative ones which may be loss-making in their high-growth phase, which are crucial for the economic recovery of the Union,” the Commission said.
It is now seeking feedback from the 27 EU countries before it decides on a final draft. The deal is the first contract signed by Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), a group formed by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to secure vaccine doses for all member states as soon as possible.
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.
