VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – At least two-thirds of new coronavirus cases being registered in Malta have been attributed to the Omicron variant, health minister Chris Fearne said.
Writing on Twitter, Fearne said 67% of the new cases currently sequenced in Malta are now of the variant which was initially detected in South Africa.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The German government decided to put Malta on the high risk areas due to the increase of COVID-19 cases. The announcement came as the Maltese health authorties confirmed an increase in the number of patients admitted to Mater Dei hospital.
122 patients are receiving treatment at Mater Dei Hospital, of whom seven are in intensive care. During the last 24 hours, Malta has registered 812 new coronavirus cases. Altough 240 patients have recovered from coronavirus, the number of active cases stands at 13,260.
So far 1,075,996 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to date, including 227,648 booster doses.
The Chamber of Commerce and the Employers Association called on the Maltese authorities to give employers the support to enforce a mandatory vaccination of employees.
While most of the Maltese students are still in their holidays, the newly appointed Education Minister Clifton Grima said that schools should be the last to close and confirmed that most of the schools will reopen on January, 10.
Meanwhile, the increase in COVID-19 cases, led the German government to include Malta on the list of high risk areas. According to the German agency responsible for disease prevention and control – Malta, Italy, Canada and San Marino have been included on the high-risk list since they reported more than 100 infection cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days. The measure means those travelling from Malta, Italy, Canada and San Marino who are not fully vaccinated must undergo a mandatory ten-day quarantine, but they can be exempted with a negative test performed after five days. Those who hold a vaccination or recovery certificate are exempt from the self-isolation rule provided that they present a valid certificate.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – In view of the daily records of COVID-19 cases registered by the Maltese health authorties, Malta welcomed the New Year with scaled down celebrations in the capital city Valletta. The original programme of events was presented on the main television stations instead of the New Year’s Eve show in Palace Square. This year’s celebrations consisted of a variety show including music, comedy and fireworks display. Meanwhile, thousands of Maltese chose to celebrate the New Year in Gozo. The increase in COVID-19 cases led to hundreds of Maltese to cancel their annual holidays abroad, and instead chose Gozo compensating for the cancellations from foreign tourists whi decided to cancel their travelling to Malta and Gozo due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.
During the last 48 hours, Malta has registered a total of 2,433 positive cases, of whom 1,030 in the last 24 hours. The total number of active cases has gone up to 12,222. The number of patients are being treated at Mater Dei Hospital decreased by one over the previous day to 99, of whom seven are in intensive care.
1,072,274 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to date, including 224,190 booster doses. In his New Year’s Eve message, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed the importance of vaccination. “We all have an important part to play. First and foremost, we must all get vaccinated against the virus. I urge one and all to take the vaccine, with the booster vaccine now also available”.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The rise of COVID-19 cases in Malta continued during the last 24 hours, with the local health authorities confirmed a new daily record of 1,353 new cases. An increase was also recorded in the number of COVID-19 patients receving treatment at Mater Dei hospital. 94 patients are being treated at Mater Dei hospital, an increase of 12 patients on the previous day. 6 patients are in the intensive care unit.
The local health authorities reported that the total number of active cases increase to 10,136 following the recovery of 172 patients.
1,060,424 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to date, including 213,816 booster doses.
Following pressure from the Opposition and the business community, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne announced that people infected with coronavirus and their contacts have to quarantine to 10 days instead of 14 days, if they have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose and showing no symptoms in the last three days.
Meanwhile, the union representing the teachers declared that it would be impossible to open the schools next week considering the present situation.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has yet again set a new daily record, with 1,337 new cases of Covid-19 reported on Wednesday. 82 patients are being treated at Mater Dei Hospital, of whom 6 are in intensive care.
The total number of registered active cases has gone up to 8,956. The transmission rate of Covid-19 is the second-highest in the EU when considering the record number of 1,298 cases on Tuesday. Malta has reported 5,889 cases of Covid-19 in the past 7 days – an average of 841 cases a day.
1,052,035 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to date, including 206,611 booster doses.
The Medical Association of Malta said that as Malta reports record numbers of Covid-19 infections, further measures should be put in place to help health professionals working in Maltàs health system cope with numbers.
MAM President Martin Balzan confirmed that the number of hospitalisations remained on an upward trend with around 10 to 16 patients are admitted to hospital with Covid-19 daily – while the total number of cases has hit record levels. And if the present trends persist, according to the MAM president, Mater Dei Hospital may yet be overwhelmed, which would require even more stringent measures.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities confirmed that 1,298 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours; the highest number of positive cases in one day since the beginning of the pandemic. This means that over one in every six people examined was found positive to COVID-19.
The number of active cases increased to 7,735 following the new registered cases and the new recoveries. According to the local health authorities, 82 patients recovered from COVID-19, however, 82 patients are still receiving treatment at Mater Dei hospital, if whom five are in the intensive care unit.
So far, a total of 1,043,069 vaccine doses had been administered, including 198,772 booster doses.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is encouraging retired nurses and health professionals to return to the public health sector to reinforce the Covid-19 response efforts.
In a week marked by a sharp increase in cases, the number of fines issued by the police for breaches of Covid-19 regulations has effectively remained unchanged. The police issued 206 fines last week following the 203 fines issued in the previous week.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities confirmed a sharp increase in both COVID-19 new cases and patients receiving treatment in Mater Dei hospital.
Five of the 80 patients in hospital are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit while over 1,800 new cases were registered in the last two days.
On Sunday, the local health authorties confirmed that a 69 year old woman has died due to coronavirus. To date, the pandemic has claimed a total of 475 lives. Meanwhile, 572 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, after two days registering over 900 cases a day. In the last 24 hours, 94 patients recovered from COVID-19, brining the total number of active cases to 5,766.
So far, a total of 1,031,293 vaccine doses had been administered, including 188,041 booster doses.
The association representing the catering establishments reported that more than half of the restaurant bookings and large events have been cancelled due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. Malta International Airport confirmed that 480 flights to and from Malta have been cancelled too.
Meanwhile, the local authorities have cancelled the New Year’s Eve celebrations which were planned to take place in Valletta following the government decision to cancel all mass events.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government was left with no option to reintroduce preventive and stricter measures to combat the new wave of Covid-19 cases hitting the country as the local health authorities confirmed the first new cases of the Omicron variant. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne have confirmed that two cases of the Omicron variant were identified following various medical tests.
A new record of 733 new cases was registered during the last 24 hours. 92 patients have recovered. The total number of actove cases increased to 3,632. 53 patients are receiving treatment at Mater Dei hospital of whom 3 are in the intensive acre unit.
Fearne confirmed that Malta has adequate supplies to administer the booster shot to fight effectively the Omicron variant. While 182,000 people have already received the third dose; 41% of those eligible, as from next Monday, those over 18 years can also register with the health authorties to receive the booster jab. 90% of people over 70 and 80% of those aged between 60 and 69 have so far taken a booster jab. It was also announced that as from January 17 the vaccination certificates would be valid for three months for those who had the second dose and valid for another nine months after the third dose. Fearne added that as from next Monday, the government will no longer allow standing events with the exception of wedding and funerals and all establishments have to close by 1pm. Spectators will not be allowed to attend sports events. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela added that in the coming weeks the government would be evaluating whether the wage supplements would be extended to help businesses cope with the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Health Minister added that from January 17, all bars, restaurants, clubs, gyms, pools and spas, casinos, gaming halls, cinema, theatres and sports venues would be open only for those who have a valid vaccination certificate. He added that by the time schools reopen in January, the government is aiming to have all children aged between 5 and 11 vaccinated.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese Labour government suffered another blow with the latest resignation coming from the Education Minister Justyne Caruana. Caruana confirmed that she was resigning from her ministerial post during a meeting with Labour Prime Minister Robert Abela and that she would not be contesting the next general election. Earlier this month, Caruana was found in breach of the ethics code by Commissioner George Hyzler following an investigation into the €5,000-a-month contract the ministry awarded to Caruanàs close friend and former footballer Daniel Bogdanovic, despite he had no experience for the role. Bogdanovic was tasked to carry out a study on school sports activities, a job he was not capable to do. It was also revealed that the report, for which Bogdanovic was to be paid €15,000, was compiled by a consultant to the minister. Bogdanovic was awarded a three-month contract worth €15,000 to review the curriculum of the national sports school despite having no pedagogical training.
This was not the first time that Caruana resigns from her ministerial post. In January 2020, Caruana resigned as minister for Gozo following revelations on her ex-husband’s friendship – former police deputy commissioner Silvio Valletta – with Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech accused as the mastermind behind the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The United States governement imposed a travel ban on former energy minister Konrad Mizzi and the former Chief of Staff of ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri. The US Department of State announced that the decision was taken due to Mizzìs and Schembrìs involvement in significant corruption. In an official statement, the Department of State said that in their official capacities as Minister of Energy and Conservation of Water and Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Mizzi and Schembri were involved in corrupt acts that included using their political influence and official power for their personal benefit. “Specifically, there is credible information that Mizzi and Schembri were involved in a corrupt scheme that entailed the award of a government contract for the construction of a power plant and related services in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. Their actions undermined the rule of law and the Maltese public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes.”
Konrad Mizzi was expelled from Labour’s parliamentary group in 2020 after he came under attack in connection with the Enemalta Mozura wind farm scandal. However Mizzi remained as an independent MP. Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech accused as the mastermind behind the killing of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia had made millions through his company 17 Black by making profit off a wind farm project Enemalta bought in Montenegro in late 2015. Both Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi were mentioned in the Panama Papers. Mizzi was the only EU minister to be revealed in the data leak. Daphne Caruana Galizia had disclosed that Schembri and Mizzi opened offshore companies after the 2013 general election and created trusts in New Zealand. Tillgate Inc. and Hearnville Inc. owned by Schembri and Mizzi respectively were expected to receive payments from a secret company 17 Black based in Dubai owned by Tumas Group Chief Executive Officer and Electrogas director Yorgen Fenech. The company had an account at Noor Bank in Dubai.
Earlier this year, it was also revealed that Macbridge, a second secret company intended to direct money to Schembrìs and Mizzìs offshore structure was linked to a Chinese negotatior. The owner of Macbridge was Tang Zhaomin, the mother-in-law of Chen Cheng, a key negotiator in the acquisition of a 33% stake in Enemalta by a Chinese state-owned company. Emails had listed two secret companies – Macbridge and 17 Black – as target clients for the Panama companies established by Schembri and Mizzi, stating that they would provide some €5,000 a day in funding.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews