LOCAL NEWS

Press Conference by Health Superintendent (4th April 1230 hrs)

In the daily briefing by Prof Charmaine Gauci, it was announced that 659 swabs took place yesterday through which 11 new cases were identified.

All these cases were locally transmitted. 9,702 tests have been carried out so far, resulting in 213 positive cases. Three cases are now hospitalised in Intensive Care, while ten are recovering in the Infectious Diseases Unit. Four are currently hospitalised at Boffa Hospital.

These patients include a healthcare worker, a two-year old girl and a foreign man residing in the Hal Far Open Centre with no apparent direct contact with the Nigerian individual who tested positive yesterday.

Prof Gauci explained that so far only two people have been announced as recovered as there are different protocols on how to re-test, which can include a double testing or a second testing which allows a reasonable timeframe to confirm the person is free from the virus.

She also referred to a recent Legal Notice granting her, in the capacity of Health Superintendent, ample powers to take the necessary decisions in combating the spread of the virus.

Maltese couple allowed to disembark

The Maltese couple who are aboard the Colombus cruise liner will be brought back to Malta. The Department of Information has announced this morning through a statement that this decision has been taken by Prime Minister Robert Abela, Minister Ian Borg and Prof. Charmaine Gauci.

The couple, aged 70, will be brought back to Malta but the cruise liner will not be allowed in Malta’s ports. It is on its way to the United Kingdom.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Timesofmalta.com 

Public health emergency declared over COVID-19

Malta has  declared a public health  emergency, giving the superintendent of public health wide-ranging powers to take all measures necessary to eliminate the threat of COVID-19.

The declaration was made via a legal notice issued with no public announcement on Wednesday and is retroactive to March 7, when Malta reported its first positive tests for the coronavirus.

Similar declarations have been made in several other countries including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia and the United States.

Union irked by BOV’s decision to open branches on Saturday 

Bank of Valletta’s decision to open five branches to customers on Saturday has upset country’s largest union.

The General Workers Union said that the bank had caved in to pressure from “some who do not want to adapt to the unique situation we all find ourselves in” and said it expected the bank to stick to the measures it had originally announced to protect its workers. Bank of Valletta said late on Friday that five of its branches – Paola, Naxxar, Żejtun, Żebbuġ and Victoria – would open on Saturday between 9am and 12.30pm.

Malta looking closely at evidence of mandatory mask-wearing to slow pandemic

Malta is monitoring the effectiveness of mandatory face mask use by the public in other countries before implementing a similar measure locally, the health authorities have said. While more countries have started recommending the use of face masks by everyone as part of efforts to stop the coronavirus from spreading, this is not yet the case in Malta.

Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci told Times of Malta on Friday the island’s health authorities have yet to change their position on the matter.

Maltatoday

Elderly complain of incessant construction amid coronavirus lockdown

Residents living in a number of towns in Malta’s central region are complaining that construction close to their homes has gone on unabated despite the fact that they have been forced to stay indoors to comply with measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

In a statement on Friday, the mayors of St Julian’s, Sliema, San Ġwann, Swieqi and Gżira said that elderly and vulnerable people, who were being requested not to leave their homes amid the Covid-19 pandemic, were finding it difficult to tolerate excavation and construction noise close to their homes.

“The first aim is to protect jobs so employees will remain on the company’s payroll instead of becoming unemployed, which means that once all this is over, they will not need to enter the job market looking for work,” he said.

Newsbook 

Changes to Identity Malta services announced

As from Monday 6th April 2020, parents can register their new-born’s birth by post, without having to visit Identity Malta’s offices. In the case of birth registrations, one of the parents, or both in the case of a child who was born out of wedlock, should notify the birth of that child.

Parents are advised to first contact the Public Registry Unit on pubreg.civilstatus@gov.mt and then send the following documents by registered mail to The Public Registry Office, Local Notifications Section, Evans Building, Merchant Street, Valletta.

Printed

The Times leads with a decision by the board overseeing the supply of a pre-fabricated hospital to go ahead with the bidding process after an investigation rejected claims that there had been any wrongdoing in the call.

The Independent reports that seven people have tested positive for the virus on Friday, among them a pregnant woman. Confirmed cases in Malta are now 202, but two patients have recovered fully.

In-Nazzjon quotes a statement by the Nationalist Party condemning the ‘exploitation’ in rising food prices during the virus emergency. The party is urging the government to fix prices for basic food products.

The Independent speaks to Economy Minister Silvio Schembri who said that the government is prepared to intervene if price abuse persists. The minister said that “isolated cases” reported so far are being dealt with by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Times reveals that a legal notice published on Wednesday has declared a public health emergency, granting the Public Health Superintendent extended powers. The legal notice was not publicly announced and is retroactive to March 7.

In-Nazzjon reports that coronavirus cases around the world have surpassed one million, resulting in 53,000 deaths. The spread surged in the United States and Europe, particularly Italy and Spain.

L-Orizzont carries the story of an 86-year-old woman who has survived tragic events such as the War War 2 bombings, several surgeries and, now, has successfully recovered from the Covid-19

In-Nazzjon says that church authorities announced a national pilgrimage in September if the pandemic subsides by then and public manifestations are permitted. Archbishop Charles Scicluna said that the event is planned for Valletta.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

British government bans banks from requesting personal guarantees for emergency loans

The British Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has banned banks from requesting personal guarantees for emergency loans to small businesses amid growing government concern that lenders have been slow in meeting demands for help.

The decision follows the rapid increase in the number of universal credit claims suggesting many small companies have already collapsed since the economy was locked down.

The Chancellor combined a new package of support for business with a warning to banks that they had to move more quickly.

Germans’ increase in demand in pasta deliveries from Italy force Aldi sending special trains to be able to stock up 

Germany ‘fears’ of being left without pasta due to the coronavirus emergency, so much so that the supermarket chain of the Aldi brand is sending special trains to Italy to be able to stock up.

“Several special trains have already brought over 60,000 packs of fusilli, over 75,000 packs of penne and 250,000 packets of spaghetti from Italy to Nuremberg, as their first delivery”, reads a statement released by Aldi.

Pasta demand has increased in Germany during this period and the supermarket chain explains that it is having difficulty meeting them. Schenker, the logistics department of the German railways Deutsche Bahn, explained that it had already taken over two hundred tons of pasta in ten trucks on more than 300 pallets.

EU Corner

Commission encourages and facilitates cross-border treatment of patients and deployment of medical staff

The coronavirus pandemic is putting healthcare systems across the EU under unprecedented and increasing pressure. To support and encourage cross-border healthcare cooperation between national, regional and local authorities, the Commission has today issued practical guidance to Member States. Cooperation across borders can help ease the pressure on overburdened hospitals by transferring patients suffering from coronavirus for treatment in Member States where hospital places are available. The Commission will also support Member States or non-governmental organisations to send qualified teams of medical personnel to offer assistance across borders.

These measures include:

• Encouraging the deployment of qualified teams of medical personnel across The Commission also encourages local, regional and national health authorities to use existing bi-lateral and regional agreements and clarify the mutual recognition of professional medical qualifications.
• Operating a Clinical Management Support System to support healthcare professionals to share knowledge and The system provides a Web conferencing platform that allow clinicians to exchange knowledge, discuss, and share clinical cases across the EU.

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.

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.