LOCAL NEWS
Update by Ministry of Health
There was one new, symptomatic and sporadic case of coronavirus in Malta in the past 24 hours, while seven have recovered. This means that the number of active cases has gone down to its lowest since the number of recoveries has been provided by the authorities, at 15.
More than 1,100 persons were tested yesterday
#MALTA-24: LOCAL NEWS
Maltatoday.com.mt
Business owners can cash government vouchers using app
Business owners will be able to redeem government vouchers that customers will pay with, using an electronic system, the Economy Ministry said. Cash from the vouchers will then be credited to a credit card account indicated by the business owner.
The new system was unveiled on Tuesday by Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, who said the €100 vouchers will start being distributed to people aged 16 and over from next week.
The vouchers form part of the government’s stimulus package for the coming three months. Four of the €20 vouchers can be spent on restaurants and accommodation, while one other €20 voucher can be spent in retail shops and services forcibly closed during the pandemic. Government will be giving more detail on how people can use the vouchers next week.
Meanwhile, business owners eligible for the scheme will receive a registered letter from the government with an activation code.
Timesofmalta.com
Airport restrictions revealed as flights resume
Cameras will alert Malta International Airport staff if passengers fail to maintain social distance, as part of a raft of measures put in place as commercial flights resume.
Malta will allow travel to and from 21 different countries from Wednesday after a flight ban that lasted over three months is lifted.
But passengers arriving and departing from the country will be monitored more closely for temperature checks and social distancing in an attempt to maintain the country’s low coronavirus levels.
Special “agglomeration detection” technology will alert staff “in real-time if social distancing is not maintained by passengers, permitting the team on the floor to take prompt action”, according to the MIA website.
Other heat-detecting cameras will detect passengers with high temperatures. Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci has already said anyone detected with a fever will not be allowed to fly and will be tested for COVID-19.
All travellers, except for those under the age of six, will have to wear masks or visors inside the terminal and 120 sanitising stations have been set up to keep the airport clean.
Independent
Moratorium on bank loans extended
In view of the uncertainty surrounding the speed of the economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential prolonged effects on output and employment that such uncertainty may generate, the Minister responsible for public health, in consultation with the Minister for Finance and Financial Services, extended the period for applications for a moratorium to 30 September 2020.
For this reason, as per paragraph 15 of the Directive, the Bank is extending the application period as per LN 278 of 2020 published yesterday.
The provisions and conditions of the Directive are to apply in full including the cut-off date of the loans eligible for moratoria, namely loans sanctioned before 14 April 2020. Borrowers who are granted a moratorium between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, and can demonstrate that their situation will not improve within the original six months period stipulated by the Directive, may apply by not later than 30 September 2020 for an extension of an additional period of six-months, which will start from the day after the end of the first moratorium period.
In the case of new eligible applicants, the moratorium granted will be for a period of six months.
Newspaper Review
Malta Today quotes Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli who said that the authorities are expecting 700,000 tourists by the end of the year. Last year, Malta attracted 2.7 million tourists.
The Times reports on special technology including heat-sensing cameras installed at the airport as it welcomes the first tourists since it was shut down during the pandemic. New protocols have also been introduced for inbound and outbound passengers.
L-Orizzont reports that Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi was found in breach of privilege by the House Speaker over claims the former Prime Minister knew of the Caruana Galizia murder plot. Azzopardi, however, refuses to withdraw the statement.
The Independent quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who categorically denied claims that the government is seeking an extension on the Moneyval deadline. The minister is part of the task-force implementing recommendations against financial crime.
In-Nazzjon carries an interview with PN secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the paper. The first edition was published under the title ‘In-Nazzjon Tagħna’ on July 1 1970.
The Times says that the court declared that was enough evidence to place five traffic police officers under a bill of indictment. The accused superintendent, two inspectors, and two sergeants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Independent says that 32 police officers from the Traffic Unit are to be arraigned by summons over allegations of misconduct. Four magistrates will preside over the proceedings in court.
L-Orizzont says that the €100 vouchers announced in the government’s regeneration plan will start being sent out from the coming week. The paper says 25,000 businesses will benefit directly from the system.
Editorials
The Times of Malta discusses a recent survey it published, wherein it found that a mere six per cent of people attended protests in the last 12 months. An earlier index of political protest in Europe, published in 2015, had placed Malta at the lowest end of protest participation. Despite this low participation, the Editor argues that the role of protest in determining Maltese political discourse has never been more essential. For one thing, by banding together to demonstrate against abuse of power and authority, people have realised they are not alone in their concerns.
The Independent dedicates its editorial to re-opening of the country’s airport, which will bring an element of risk. The Editor believes it ill take little for the virus to rear its head again in Malta. It happened to other countries too – they brought the situation under control, re-opened their borders, and the number of cases started to grow again. Some were forced to re-introduce restrictions that they had just lifted. Still, the Editor maintains that Malta cannot continue to remain isolated from the rest of the world.
On the same tune, the Editor at Maltatoday argues that safeguarding both health and economy is possible and doable. Recent experience suggests that it is perfectly possible – and indeed, doable – to maintain our success against COVID-19, while also strengthening the economy. But it all depends on adopting, and maintaining, the best policies.
In-Nazzjon today celebrates its fiftieth year in print and the editorial celebrates not only all those who have contributed throughout the years but recalls some of the key events that have marked the Nationalist Party’s mouthpiece throughout this half century.
L-Orizzont quotes a survey which shows that more than 62% of the Maltese population approve of the citizenship by investment programme, known critically as sale of citizenship in some quarters. The Editor makes an argument in favour of the continuation of such a scheme, which may be twisted to developing needs, but definitely not scrapped.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (By corporatedispatch.com)
The Pope says coronavirus pandemic showed media mission essential
The COVID crisis has shown how essential the media’s mission is, Pope Francis said Tuesday.
“The experience of these last months has shown how essential the media’s mission to keep people united, shortening distances, supplying the necessary information and opening hearts and minds to the truth,” Francis said in a message to the Catholic Media Conference, running from June 30 to July 2 on the theme “Together While Apart”.
Scientists running the RECOVERY trial at the University of Oxford said that the results “convincingly rule out any meaningful mortality benefit of lopinavir-ritonavir in the hospitalised COVID-19 patients we studied.”
Russia reports 6,556 new coronavirus cases
Russia on Wednesday reported 6,556 new cases of the novel coronavirus, taking its nationwide tally to 654,405.
The country’s coronavirus response centre said 216 people had died of the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 9,536.
EU Corner – by Comuniq.EU
Financing the recovery must not burden the next generation – EP
Financing the recovery must not burden the next generation. The European Parliament stressed this point prior to the final decisions that need to be taken by the EU Member States collectively regarding the EU’s regeneration plan and long-term budget.
During a press conference yesterday, the Chair of the Committee on Budgets, Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, BE), said: “For the recovery strategy and the next long-term budget to come into being, it will require 27 member states to be on board, strong leadership and brokering from the EU Commission and, last but not least, the European Parliament’s full engagement. Parliament is ready to work quickly, but it will not throw away its rights and powers.
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.
