LOCAL NEWS
Press Conference by Health Superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci (15th April, 1230)
Another six cases were registered in the past 24 hours, three of which concern other immigrants who were tested at Hal Far. Malta is just one short of 400 positive cases. 44 individuals have since recovered.
The other three cases concern a 38-year old Gozitan woman, who was reporting to work until yesterday, a young student and a 60-year old Maltese man who works with a Government entity. The necessary contact tracing was taking place.
In her daily briefing Prof Gauci acknowledged that one of recent cases was identified at Malta Freeport.
Prof Gauci explained that the authorities are noticing an increase in anxiety, with some people who had never experienced such feelings finding it hard to adapt to current circumstances. She recommended people experiencing such symptoms to call 1770. 350 persons have so far contacted this helpline, which is being supported by the Health Ministry and Richmond Foundation.
Replying to questions on the easing of restrictions in other countries, the Health Superintendent said that although the authorities were already working on their plans in that regard, it was still early to consider any similar implementation in Malta as this would put at risk the protection of vulnerable persons since “the curve was still on the increase”.
Chamber of Commerce Statement
The Chamber of Commerce has today appealed Government to extend assistance beyond contribution to wages but should look at helping businesses prepare to have a fighting chance of landing on their feet once the crisis is over. Perit David Xuereb, President of The Malta Chamber explained: “The assistance Government has afforded businesses so far has already gone a long way, as it has allowed some businesses to keep their employees on board. This will come to their great advantage upon resumption of normal business. But more is needed.
While determinate sectors had to close shop due to the partial lock-down, and naturally needed the immediate assistance to avoid mass unemployment, other sectors have been affected by the ripple effect of the same closures.
The feeder sectors of the tourism, entertainment, retail, catering and related sectors have also been badly affected as their revenue streams have continued to dry up, and need more assistance in the immediate term”.
The Malta Chamber called for deferments on all forms of taxation, including Income Tax, VAT as well as of Excise Duties in order to help liquidity. It is proposed that rental fees payable to Malta Industrial Parks are waived and those to the Lands Authority are suspended with suspensions applicable to sub-leases. On commercial rents, an equitable system is proposed between landlord and tenant stipulating that, during the crisis, the rent is reduced by a predetermined percentage and if it is not paid, it becomes payable in full.
It also continues to be stressed that all economic stakeholders are to share the burden in a spirit of solidarity. This includes public-sector employees who need to contribute in an equitable burden sharing mechanism through wage cuts of not less than 20 per cent with the exception of people engaged in healthcare, the Armed Forces, law- enforcement, cleaning, utility and other essential service providers.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Timesofmalta.com
Malta’s economy likely to shrink by 2.8%, but will rebound in 2021 – IMF
Malta’s economy is projected to shrink by 2.8% this year before rebounding into strong 7% growth in 2021, the International Monetary Fund has projected.
The 2.8% contraction would represent a negative shift of more than 7 percentage points from 2019, when the economy grew by 4.4%.
Unemployment is also expected to rise to 5% this year, the IMF said, before falling slightly to 4.4% in 2021. Unemployment figures last year hovered at lows of 3.4%.
Malta’s current account balance – a major indicator of a country’s foreign trade – is expected to fall from 8.4% of GDP last year to 3.3% this year, before rebounding slightly to 6.1% in 2021.
The IMF’s projections are based on a best-case scenario in which the coronavirus pandemic will wane in the second half of this year, allowing governments to loosen containment efforts and kickstart economies back into action.
Independent
St Philip’s Hospital offered at market price, FMS to assess its state of repair
St Philip’s Hospital was offered to the Health Department by former PN leadership contender, Frank Portelli at market price, a spokesperson for the department told The Malta Independent.
Portelli offered the government use of the former hospital as a facility to treat COVID-19 patients but it was reported that he had not yet received a reply, till the end of March. The Health Department has informed this newsroom that the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) has asked for access to the facility, to assess its state of repair.
Maltatoday
Aviation firm Medavia sacks all its pilots and crew
Malta-based aviation firm Medavia has made all its pilots and crew redundant in what it called a “very drastic measure” to save the company from impact of COVID-19.
MaltaToday is informed that Medavia made 26 staff members redundant, amounting to all its pilots and cabin crew.
On Tuesday evening, Medavia confirmed it had no choice but to “make redundancies” due to the “disastrous effect” of the coronavirus on its operations.
Printed
The Times says that a company owned by an associate of former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was given a direct order in December to review the NAO report into the Electrogas deal. The owner, David Galea, was himself involved in the negotiations of the power station contracts.
L-Orizzont carries an interview with a nurse who only graduated in December and has immediately started working at Mater Dei hospital. She says that elderly people with Covid-19 are suffering from loneliness.
In-Nazzjon quotes PN Deputy Leader David Agius who urged the government to ensure the home delivery of medical products to elderly people throughout the outbreak. The party is proposing a pension bonus to compensate for added expenses.
L-Orizzont reports nine new cases of coronavirus by Tuesday, returned from a pool of more than one thousand swab tests. The paper says that there have now been a total 393 confirmed patients, 19 of whom work in the health sector.
The Times quotes a report by the International Monetary Fund projecting that Malta’s economy will contract by 2.8 percent this year before recovering to a strong growth rate of 7 percent in 2021.
The Independent asks Education Minister Owen Bonnici whether private schools will receive financial aid. The minister said that schools and student families are discussing the payment of fees and the government should not interfere in the issue.
Editorials
The Times of Malta focuses on current migratory challenges, which, added to the current pandemic provide Malta with a significant headache while endangering so many innocent people’s lives. To make matters worse, conflict in Libya has flared up in the past weeks, threatening to send more migrants across the seas. The Editor calls on the EU for further intervention, by aiding Libya before the seas becomes once again, a grave.
The Editor at The Malta Independent expresses hope that when life gets back to normality we do take some of the benefits the current situations has brought around – including the possibility to spend more time with family, rushing through days without a break and doing those little things that we never though we’d have time for.
Maltatoday says that the current pandemic should not force us to lose our humanity. It reminds its readers that despite the concerns related to immigration, the virus was brought to our shores by globetrotting European – including Maltese citizens. It calls on Prime Minister Robert Abela to show statesmanship rather than trying to appease public opinion.
L-Orizzont welcomes a number of educational initiatives taken by Government during this time of crisis, including not only the provision of distance learning but also the provision of laptops and free Internet to families who are most in need.
In–Nazzjon describes as “heroes of our times” the numerous frontliners who are fronting the fight against the pandemic. The Editor compares the generous efforts of many volunteers with the few who are abusing of these challenging times by, for example, rising prices for essential products.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Trump freezes WHO funding (Source: Times of Malta)
President Donald Trump has announced a freeze in US funding to the World Health Organisation because he said it had been biased to China.
According to Trump, the WHO prevented transparency over the COVID-19 outbreak when it appeared in China, costing other countries crucial time to prepare, delaying decisions to stop international travel.
“Had the WHO done its job to get medical experts into China to objectively assess the situation on the ground and to call out China’s lack of transparency, the outbreak could have been contained at its source with very little death,” he said.
“The WHO’s attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above life-saving measures.”
Spain’s daily death toll falls again
The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Spain in 24 hours fell again on Wednesday to 523, from 567 reported the previous day, the country’s health ministry said.
The daily death toll brought the total number of fatalities to 18,579.
The overall number of cases in the country rose to 177,633 on Wednesday from 172,541 the day before.
EU Corner
Von der Leyen outlines three criteria for lifting lockdown restrictions
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her road map for lifting coronavirus restrictions across the bloc.
In a 14-page document laying out her ideas, von der Leyen says that “although it is clear that the path back to normalcy will take a long time, it is also obvious that we cannot maintain these extraordinary restrictions indefinitely.”
She says lockdowns across the continent had proven effective, yet also precipitated a tremendous economic shock and placed a heavy burden on public life. EU officials estimate that the eurozone economy could shrink by 10 percent this year — a drop in economic productivity not seen since the global economic crisis of the 1920s.
At the press conference on the EU’s response to the coronavirus crisis, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has outlined three criteria for lifting lockdown restrictions.
She said member states should consider infection rates, the capacity of healthcare systems and the level of testing available before lifting restrictions that could trigger a rise in cases.
She also said the European Commission’s plan should not be seen as a signal that countries should start lifting lockdown measures now.
More News:
For a Fact-Checked Aggregated Service of CoVid-19 related information, please visit: https://corporatedispatch.com/category/coronavirus/
Additional info
Helplines
111 – For those who feel symptoms of COVID-19 or who wish further information
21411 411 – For those in mandatory quarantine who require provisions of food and medicine
1772 – For those who are feeling lonely.
153 – For those who require information about the financial measures administered by the Department for Social Security.
144 – For those who require information about the financial measures administered by Malta Enterprise.
2204 2200 – For Maltese residents who were caught in one of the high-risk countries and wish to return to Malta
25981000 – For those who have questions about the educational sector and the impact of the coronavirus
21692447– For hoteliers and tourists who have questions about the announced measures.
5903030 – For elderly persons bereft of support who need medicines, ready-made meals or food products (fruit and vegetables)
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.
