In the last 24 hours Malta has registered 17 new cases of coronavirus for a total of 90. This was confirmed by Dr Chris Fearne, the Health Minister who announced further restriction measures as from Monday morning. He confirmed an increase of local transmitted cases of COVID 19.
The new measures taken by the Maltese governing are the closing of all shops that are not essential, shut down of all non-essential services and the banning of all public activities and meetings. Those found breaching the new decree will be fined €3,000. Post, medical, banking and transport services will remain operating normally.
According to the Supretendent of Public Health Prof. Chairmaine Gauci 10 of the 17 new cases are related to individuals who recently arrived in Malta from abroad. Last Friday night, the Maltese government stopped all incoming flights. The other seven patients have contracted the virus locally as they did not have any recent history of travelling abroad. She added that the health authorities are expecting more positive cases of coronavirus as contact tracing is leading to more new cases.
Meanwhile, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared on Sunday that his government is following closely and in detail the developments in order to announce more measures that would help various industries being effected negatively due to the coronavirus. During a televised interview he added that the aim of his government is to keep businesses alive. “At this stage, if the economy need to shift from a surplus to a deficit to save businesses and jobs, then so be it.”
Employers’ associations and trade unions are facing pressures, and declared that the €1.81 billion aid package is a non-starter.
