Press Conference by Health Superintendent (28th March, 1230 hrs)
Prof Gauci announced that 487 tests were carried out yesterday, resulting in 10 positive cases. Unfortunately, this includes a 72-year old and is in a critical situation. Six cases relate to travel, while four are local transmission.
The 72-year old is now in Intensive Therapy and making use of a ventilator through intubation. He seems to have contracted the virus from a person who had earlier returned from abroad. Three persons are now hospitalised in ITU, with the other two being in stable condition.
The cases of local transmission include a healthcare worker. Two are Maltese and two are Indian, with the latter related to an already identified cluster which had started at a workplace. This cluster now includes seven persons.
Prof Gauci explained that through the containment strategy, the authorities where seeking to avoid an overwhelming of Malta’s health care services. Social distancing was an important element in achieving this objective.
Press Conference by Deputy PM Chris Fearne (28h March, 1100 hrs)
DPM Chris Fearne has announced that ten new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. The Health Minister explained that although the number was low for the third successive days, this was not a reason for complacency. Mata’s total now stands at 149.
Fearne said that the WHO pinpointed Malta as case of best practice in its approach against the virus.
Speaking in Gozo, Fearne announced that 120 beds will be made available at the Gozo General Hospital for Covid-19 patients, 13 of them in intensive care. More than half of the required beds will be available in the next 2 weeks.
Fearne dismissed arguments of a change in policy regarding lockdown, insisting this a constantly evolving situation and directives are constantly fine-tuned.
Opposition Press Conference
“No Prime Minister overturns decisions taken by his Health Minister, especially in such circumstances”. Adrian Delia criticized what he described as a U-turn the decision by PM Abela to reduce restrictions on the movement of the elderly and vulnerable persons as originally instructed by Health Minister Chris Fearne. He noted that the elderly had understood the need to stay inside in the current situation, therefore the Prime Minister’s relaxed approach sparked a massive confusion amongst many.
The PN leader criticized Government’s lack of long-term planning, urging the authorities to put in place a three-month plan to combat the spreading of coronavirus. Delia noted that Government announced a plan, only to change it after a mere four days, then issued a tender for a pre-fabricated hospital, and withdrawing it 48 hours later.
Adrian calls again on Government to reduce tariffs now that oil and gas prices have gone down considerably. He argued that Malta is saving around 86 million euro through lower international prices. It therefore made sense that electricity and fuel prices were decreased to support families.
In the Press Conference, Nationalist MPs Jason Azzopardi has called out Government on the scandalous way it has issued a call for the provision of what he described as a “hospital in a container”. It was clear that operators close to the Labour Party had a heads-up to prepare themselves to bid for this call.
MP Karol Aquilina noted that had Government not sold off in a scandalous manner, three hospitals, particularly St Luke’s Hospital would have been able to provide an additional 1,000 bed. “Despite the critical situation we’re in, Steward Healthcare have not explain how they will contribute to help the national healthcare system”. Our professionals, insisted Aquilina, are paying the price for the fact that Government is wasting our resources in not insisting with Steward to contribute as necessary.
Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise, Industry – Reaction
In a press statement, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry remarked that recent instances of changes to instructions and incomplete clarity by Government have created unnecessary uncertainty.
The Chamber believes that sound consultation with all relevant parties involved, prior to decision taking, can save time, remove confusion and avoid frustration for all.
In its statement, the Chamber argued that “the extraordinary times we are living can be considered completely unchartered territory, which every Government around the world is navigating with a degree of uncertainty. Within this context, the Malta Chamber reiterates its offer to assist Government in a bid to ensure misunderstandings and uncertainty remain to an absolute minimum.”
The Malta Chamber has received hundreds of communications from the business community voicing concern and asking for clarity on what was being communicated by Government. The few inconsistencies experienced lately are not only harming businesses, which at this time are facing the most trying moments of their existence, but are also bringing about an unnecessary level of uncertainty we could all do without as a country.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Timesofmalta.com
Schools to remain closed until next scholastic year, SEC exams postponed
Schools will remain closed until the end of June and next month’s SEC examinations will not be held, Education Minister Owen Bonnici said on Saturday.
Students who were due to sit for Ordinary level exams will instead be assessed by the MATSEC board based on their mock examination results, or else be given the choice to sit for their exams during a September examination session.
All students sitting for Intermediate or Advanced level examinations will sit for their exams during that September session.
A resit examination session, originally scheduled for September, will instead be held in December. Students who need to resit exams will be allowed to begin the next academic year, pending their exam results.
Lockdown rules revised for vulnerable people and their household members
People living in the same household as those told to stay home as of Saturday will be allowed to go to work, the government has said, in a reversal of its original decision ordering entire households to remain indoors.
In a fact sheet issued on Friday evening, the government said that people living in the same home as vulnerable people would be allowed to go to work, go shopping for essential items, attend medical appointments or exercise child visitation rights, in the case of separated or divorced parents.
That is not the only change in rules: according to the fact sheet, which was issued in Maltese, people ordered into lockdown can also leave the house for a range of other reasons, besides attending medical appointments: to buy food, medicines and other necessities, and to attend to “absolutely essential or urgent” needs.
The fact sheet provides examples of what constitutes an “absolutely essential or urgent”
need:
- Exercising child visitation rights
- Going to work for a critical reason and for a short period of time
- Feeding or caring for animals which are located somewhere other than their home
- Going to the
Maltatoday
TM retracts decision on closing down of autodealers
Transport Malta has retracted its decision on closing down showrooms of authorised car dealers as from Saturday 28 March within hours. The initial statement informing that showrooms of authorised car dealers will be shut down from tomorrow was sent at 5:55pm on Friday. However in a separate statement sent at 7.16pm, Transport Malta said it has revoked its decision with immediate effect.
Printed
The Times says that people with medical conditions were left confused by government guidelines that seem to relax official orders for lockdown, starting today. The paper says that the category of ‘vulnerable people’ is not sufficiently clear.
L-Orizzont investigates price hikes as a result of the virus spread and reports that some businesses have increased prices by up to 25 percent for fruit and vegetables. The paper speaks to a greengrocer who said there is a good supply of fresh produce. L-Orizzont speaks to sociologist Godfrey Baldacchino about the long-term effects of the virus crisis on the country. Prof. Baldacchino said that it is still far too early to determine the changes to society.
The Independent reports that five new cases have been discovered by Friday, four of which are instances of local transmission. The number of people who tested positive in the first three weeks stands at 139. The papers peaks to sources in the real estate industry who said that the activity is at a “complete standstill”. Real estate agents said that it is not easy to provide any form of forecast while the situation remains highly uncertain.
In-Nazzjon says that Prime Minister Robert Abela on Friday overruled health authorities on Friday evening when he announced that there will not be a lockdown on people living with vulnerable people. In-Nazzjon says that confirmed cases around the world have almost reached 600,000 since the start of the outbreak.
The paper reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also tested positive on Friday and is being kept in quarantine.
Corporate Dispatch – Today’s Editorial
Corporate Dispatch argues that we are not in election mode and this is not the time to play games.
Read more.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Fears of new wave of infections in the south of Italy
There is fear in Italy fear that the virus is silently spreading in the country’s south.
Italy, one of the hot spots in the global pandemic, has by far the most virus deaths of any nation in the world, a grim tally that reached 9,134 as of Friday. In the south, where hospitals are even less prepared and equipped than the prosperous north, there is a great lack of medical equipment, protective masks and personnel. In one week, Puglia in the “heel” of the Italian peninsula went from 478 cases to 1,182, with a doubling of ICU patients. Campania also doubled its caseload to 1,310 and tripled the number of people in ICUs.
Europol warns against coronavirus scams
The European police authority has warned that con artists are preying on fears of illness by offering fake masks, medicine, COVID-19 tests and even vaccines.
Across Europe, many companies and individuals are forced to look on hopelessly as contracts are canceled and orders put on hold due to the effects of the new COVID-19 coronavirus. However, not every business sector is feeling the crunch — business is booming for fraudsters and con artists.
EU Corner
Commission boosts budget for repatriation flights and rescEU stockpile
The European Commission has proposed to make €75 million from the EU budget available to help Member States repatriate EU nationals and to increase the budget of the RescEU medical stockpile.
Thanks to repatriation flights organised through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and co-financed by the EU, 2,312 people have been already repatriated to Europe from China, Japan, the U.S., Morocco, Tunisia, Georgia, the Philippines and Cabo Verde since the beginning of the outbreak. More than 80 further repatriation flights are planned in the coming days.
Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU contributes to the costs of repatriation flights that carry nationals of more than one Member State, based on a principle of solidarity.
This European Commission proposal will increase the total budget of the first ever rescEU stockpile of medical equipment (ventilators, protective masks and essential medical gear) to €80 million.
EU Parliament votes financial assistance for countries affected by COVID-19
Following an urgent procedure, the European Parliament backed two packages of financial support for countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
The instruments include an investment initiative worth €37 billion and widening the scope of the EU Solidarity Fund by up to €800 million so that EU countries can draw from it in case of a public health emergency like the COVID-19 outbreak.
The so-called ‘Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative’ will mobilise funds within the existing EU budget to promote investments in the sectors affected by the crisis in the short and long term.
It will do so by redirecting unused resources from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) that support regional development in the poorest regions of the bloc.
EU assistance to Italy
The EU has allocated a special package to support Italy during this time of crisis. Discover more here.
Corporate Dispatch Recommends:
Diplomatique.Expert – No. 25 – Malta’s only International Affairs eJournal by CorporateDispatch.Com
More News:
For a Fact-Checked Aggregated Service of CoVid-19 related information, please visit: https://corporatedispatch.com/category/coronavirus/
Additional info
Malta Helpline: 111
International assistance contact
While Maltese Missions abroad will be assisting Maltese citizens who require assistance in the affected areas, in case of emergency or for more information, Maltese citizens may contact the Ministry on the following coordinates:
- Phone: 00356 2204 2200
- Email address: mfea@gov.mt
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.
