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While the Maltese health authorities have announced that in less than two weeks Malta has recorded a total of 64 positive cases for coronavirus, the local situation seems to be more in crisis with eleven new cases, one of them was positive through a close local contact.

The Superintendent for Public Health Dr. Charmaine Gaudi added that the first case from Gozo was confirmed while an elderly man has had complications and is being treated at Mater Dei hospital. The 69-year-old man from Gozo had his first symptoms on March 16. He had not been abroad and was not in contact with anyone else who had travelled in recent days. But on March 10, he has met local people and the probability is that he contracted the virus there. Meanwhile, a 61-year-old Maltese who was admitted to Mater Dei hospital on 13 March was confirmed that he is suffering from lung complications. His 45-year-old partner has registered symptoms of coronavirus but not confirmed positive yet.

Another case concerns a 63-year-old man who had recently been to Italy. On March 14, she started with the first symptoms and was in quarantine from March 11. The third case is a 45-year-old man who returned from Istanbul on 17 March. He was with another person who also had coronavirus symptoms. The health authorities are awaiting medical results.

Meanwhile, there are two more cases involving health workers, 49 and 36 respectively. The 36-year-old probably had contacts with another health care worker who was already positive. 

This video shows deserted streets of Paceville (Malta) as coronavirus spreads in Europe despite heavy containment efforts.

While the President of Malta George Vella thanked all the health workers for their dedication during this difficult and challenging circumstances, the maltese health authorities while announcing five other new cases of coronavirus, declared that the worse is yet to come.

In a televised message, the President of Malta appealed to the Maltese and all foreigners living in Malta to abide to all instructions issued by the health authorities. “We are all in the same boat and that as part of our extended family, your health is also a priority to us.”

Up to now, Malta has registered a total of 53 patients who were confirmed positive for COVID 19. The five new cases reported today are a 56-year-old Maltese who had a relative who was already positive. The woman had no contact with anyone. A 29-year-old Maltese who was in the United Kingdom between 8 and 15 March. The symptoms associated with coronavirus emerged on March 15. The person had followed the rules on his return to Malta and followed the quarantine. A 33-year-old Spaniard who lives and works in Malta has been tested positive. The man was in Madrid between February 29 and March 9. He showed his first symptoms on March 12. The man went to work for a couple of hours two days before showing the symptoms, but according to the health authorities his colleagues are not at risk. A 35-year-old Maltese who was in Brussels has been tested positive. The man was in quarantine and therefore there was no risk for others. The fifth case is of a 64-year-old Maltese, relative of another patient who was already tested positive. They travelled together to the United Kingdom, but on their return they were put in quarantine and the risk was controlled.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Opposition and all associations representing various industries and the employers slammed the financial package announced yesterday evening by the Labour government, and declared that it is not adequate and definitely there will be job losses.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

The Archbishop of Malta Mons. Charles J. Scicluna declared that considering the present circumstances caused by the coronavirus, it seems very difficult that the pastoral visit by Pope Francis will take place as previously announced on 31 May. When he was asked during an interview on the Church radio station, Mons. Scicluna added that there is no official communication of any cancellation yet.

Malta is almost in complete lockdown. The government has suspended all mass events throughout the island and as from Friday midnight all air traffic to Malta will be suspended for an indefinite period. The Archdiocese of Malta has cancelled all masses, and churches are only open for individual prayers.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

The Maltese government has announced new measures in a bid to help local businesses and the working community in light of the ongoing crises caused by the coronavirus. Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that the costed measures amount to almost 2 billion and described the aid package as “generous but required in the present circumstances”.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna described the government’s aid as better than the average within the European Union. He also said that the Eurozone will be facing a recession. Malta’s 1.81 billion package is equal to 12.9% of Malta’s 2019 Gross Domestic Product.

During the press conference, it was confirmed that 35 million were allocated for health authorities to fight COVID-19.

Scicluna said that the postponement of income tax, VAT, and National Insurance dues for March and April for employers and the self-employed will cost between 400-700 million while this financial package includes loan guarantees which amount to €900 million. He said that these measures will enable banks to help businesses cope. The Finance Minister also said that there will be a direct injection of €210 million to assist the economy so that jobs will be saved.

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that those enterprises who suffered from at least a 25% reduction in operations will be helped. Employers are also to be given 350 euro for every employee on quarantine leave and there will be special measures to cover leave for families and the wage bill of businesses who have had to close because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Schembri also announced that Malta won’t be accepting applications “for new third-country nationals” except for those who are highly-skilled while the government agency ‘Jobsplus’ has launched a new service to assist the third-country nationals who lost their job.
He also said that the Government Housing Subsidies will be increased for those families where one dependent had their employment terminated. The government will also increase the unemployment benefit for those losing their full-time job after 9 March.
(ITALPRESS).

A day after a controversial statement in the Maltese parliament by the Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, the Minister published an apology via a recorded message on Facebook. During a parliamentary debate last Tuesday, Schembri said that foreigners fired from their work as a result of the COVID 19 crisis should be deported to their own country.

Schembri said he wanted to “get everything clear” after his speech caused a barrage of criticism on the social media. “My choice of words was unfortunate and I apologize if I have offended someone,” said the Maltese minister. He also ensured that third country and EU citizens would not be expelled.

Schembri said that together with the Maltese government, he is united in respect for all workers, regardless of their nationality. The minister added the government is proud that the Maltese economy has not only offered better lives to the Maltese families, but has also opened the doors for European and third-country nationals to build a future. “I thank you for your hard work  and I can’t wait to see our economy get back on track in the interest of everyone who lives in Malta and Gozo”.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

Malta and Gozo are getting more deserted day after day, with few people roaming in the streets. People are staying more indoors, thousands of workers are working from home while tourists spots are almost empty with all museums, bars,  restaurants and hotels are closed for an indefinite period.

The Public Health Superintendent Prof. Charmaine Gauci has confirmed 10 new cases of people found positive for the coronavirus. Most of the 48 cases so far are associated with travel from various European countries. There is also an increase in local transmission case,  other positive cases that are imported from abroad and since yesterday new local transmission cases have been confirmed.

Meanwhile, there is alarm at Mater Dei hospital. After yesterday’s case, the health authorities confirmed two other positive cases of patients who are linked to yesterday’s case which involves an English woman who was admitted to hospital  for a fracture. These new cases are of a maltese man, 57, who was in another ward with another patient. All other patients and health carers are in quarantine despite the negative medical result.

The first elderly people were also confirmed positive for the coronavirus; 70 and 73 years respectively.

An Italian couple, 43, who live in Malta but were not abroad. The woman started showing the first symptoms on March 12 and the man the next day.

There are also two women, 26 and 27 years old who were on vacation in Poland and Germany, and returned to Malta from Berlin on 11 March. They started showing symptoms three days before their arrival and health authorities are underway to identify other passengers who were on the Berlin-Malta flight.

Another woman who was confirmed positive for coronavirus had arrived from London. Together with his family, he is under quarantine.

Another Maltese, 37, showed symptoms on March 9 after being in contact with a foreigner who had traveled to the UK. Health authorities are continuing to search for his colleagues who made contact with him.

The other newly registered case is of a 26 year old woman. She is part of a group of four patients who where confirmed positive a few days ago.

While Malta is fighting the spread of COVID 19, heavy pressure is not only being put on the health services, but also on the business community as this crises is already causing an extremely negative impact on Malta’s economy.

The Maltese government has decided to extend the closing days for all schools, educational institutions and child care centers for another month until 17 April. The decision was taken following consultations with the health authorities.

The government has also announced the closure of the Maltese airspace as from 20 March. Meanwhile, the airport authorities are appealing to passengers who were planning on travelling in the coming days to contact their respective airlines for more information about their flights.  As from 21 March, Malta International Airport will remain operational to facilitate the arrival and departure of cargo, humanitarian, and ferry flights until further notice.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

The government of Malta said that at this time of crisis as a result of the effect of the coronavirus on the maltese economy, the priority is to ensure the work of the Maltese people. “All dismissed foreigners should be deported,” Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said in parliament.

He insisted that the main objective of the Maltese government is the employment of the Maltese and Gozitans. “The moment that foreign workers lose their jobs, they will have to return to their country”.

There are already reports of foreigners who have been officially informed that their work have been terminated, and were asked to inform the government agencies. If they do not and ignore all instructions, their work and residence permit in Malta will be revoked immediately.

During the parliamentary debate which was requested by the Nationalist opposition, Minister Schembri clarified that he referred to foreigners who come from third countries; those not from within the European Union. These workers are employed in various sectors such with security companies and in the tourism sector.

The opposition has raised concerns about the possibility of social disorder by hundreds of foreigners who may lose their jobs in Malta.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna has said that most of the commercial community will face economic repercussions. The Maltese government has already decided that from this night, all bars, restaurants and social centers must be closed.

But opposition leader Adrian Delia warned that the situation justified drastic measures from the moment the coronavirus started to spread. He also warned that the lack of immediate intervention by the Labor government would lead to a huge crisis particularly in the labor sector.

So far the Maltese government has not published concrete measures for the business community to deal with the crisis caused by COVID 19. But the association representing medium-sized enterprises has asked its rappresentatives not to lay off employees before the government announces the measures to support the economy.

The Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce, the only Chamber of Commerce in Malta recognised by the Italian government, representative of an important Maltese and Italian business community, is shocked and completely dissociates itself from the claims published in the national media and attributed to the Minister of Economy of Malta the Hon.Silvio Schembri.

“In this moment we should be thinking about protecting everyone’s health, ruther than dividing us. As everyone knows and repeats, the coronavirus does not distinguish between nationalities. We are sure that the minister’s words are the result of a misunderstanding”, The Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce said.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)