Segwi l-Aħħar Żviluppi

Fid-dawl tat-tixrid li dejjem jiżdied tal-COVID-19 u għaldaqstant tal-limiti li dejjem qed jiżdiedu biex wieħed isiefer minn ajruporti barra l-pajjiż, ċittadini Maltin li bħalissa jinsabu barra minn Malta qed ikunu mħeġġa biex jiġu Malta sa mhux aktar tard minn nhar il-Ħadd 12 ta’ April 2020. Dawn jistgħu jiġu lura permezz ta’ titjiriet minn Heathrow f’Londra jew l-ajruport maġġuri ta’ Frankfurt. Dawn jistgħu jagħmlu użu minn kwalunkwe titjira kummerċjali disponibbli. L-itinerarju tat-titjira flimkien ma’ kopja tal-passaport, għandhom jintbagħtu fuq sitcen.mfea@gov.mt. B’hekk wieħed ikun jista’ jirriserva t-titjira ta’ ripatrijazzjoni tiegħu minn Heathrow f’Londra jew minn Frankfurt. Persuni li jagħżlu li jibqgħu barra mill-pajjiż wara t-12 ta’ April 2020, jieħdu r-responsabbiltà tar-riskju fuqhom. Il-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u Ewropej ma jistax jiggarantixxi r-ripatrijazzjoni wara din id-data.

Dan t’hawn fuq japplika wkoll għal ċittadini ta’ pajjiżi terzi li għandhom permess Malti validu ta’ residenza. Biex wieħed jirriserva titjira ta’ ripatrijazzjoni hemm bżonn ta’ kopja tal-passaport u tal-karta tar-residenza. Din għandha tintbagħat flimkien mal-itinerarju tat-titjira fuq sitcen.mfea@gov.mt

Dawk il-persuni li ma jistgħux jivvjaġġaw minħabba lockdowns imposti, għandhom jinfurmaw minnufih lill-Ministeru fuq sitcen.mfea@gov.mt Dawk li diġà huma rreġistrati mal-Ministeru qed ikunu mħeġġa wkoll jibagħtu email bl-aġġornament tal-istatus attwali tagħhom.

Iċ-Ċentru ta’ Sitwazzjoni fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Affarijiet Ewropej huwa disponibbli mit-08:00 sat-20:00hrs, mit-Tnejn sal-Ħadd u jista’ jintlaħaq bit-telefon fuq 00356 2204 2200. Ir-riservazzjonijiet għal titjiriet ta’ ripatrijazzjoni se jkunu aċċettati biss bl-email.

Ir-rekwiżit għall-individwi li josservaw kwarantina obbligatorja qed jiġi estiż għall-individwi kollha li jidħlu Malta, irrispettivament mill-pajjiż tat-tluq.

Dan huwa konformi mad-determinazzjoni tal-Gvern li jipprijoritizza s-saħħa u l-benesseri tal-popolazzjoni ta’ Malta u Għawdex, u li jżomm is-sitwazzjoni preżenti taħt kontroll.

Dan ifisser li, b’effett immedjatament mit-13 ta’ Marzu 2020, l-individwi kollha li jidħlu Malta jkunu meħtieġa josservaw kwarantina obbligatorja ta’ 14-il jum.

Individwi li ma josservawx din il-kwarantina obbligatorja ser ikunu suġġetti għal multa li tammonta għal € 1,000 għal kull każ ta’ nuqqas ta’ osservanza.

Il-kwarantina obbligatorja se tiġi infurzata permezz ta’ kontrolli regolari mill-Korp tal-Pulizija ta’ Malta.

Sadanittant, jekk ċittadini ta’ pajjiżi terzi li jaħdmu f’Malta jiksru d-direttiva tal-kwarantina, minbarra l-multa ta’ € 1,000, il-permess tax-xogħol tagħhom jiġi revokat ukoll, u jwassal għal deportazzjoni.

Bħala parti mill-impenn tagħha biex tippromwovi servizz ta’ trasport pubbliku b’saħħtu u sigur, Malta Public Transport implimentat numru ta’ miżuri ta’ prekawzjoni, wara konsultazzjoni u ftehim mal-awtoritajiet, fid-dawl tas-sitwazzjoni COVID-19 f’Malta.

It-trasport pubbliku huwa servizz essenzjali fil-komunità tagħna. Sewwieqa tal-linja, mekkaniks, elettriċisti, spetturi, u ħafna oħrajn qed jaħdmu ħafna biex jiżguraw li n-nies jistgħu jivvjaġġaw mingħajr periklu madwar Malta u Għawdex. Għalhekk il-kooperazzjoni ta’ kulħadd hija meħtieġa, u n-nies huma ġentilment mitluba li ma jivvjaġġawx jekk iħossuhom morda, u li jsegwu l-proċeduri tal-kwarantina kif indikat mill-awtoritajiet.

Il-miżuri implimentati minn Malta Public Transport skont il-pjan ta’ kontinġenza tagħha huma kif ġej:

1. B’effett immedjat, il-passiġġieri bil-wieqfa abbord karozzi tal-linja mhux se jkunu permessi.
2. Ix-xarabanks jitnaddfu kull lejl. Matul l-aħħar ġimgħatejn, it-tindif tal-karozzi tal-linja ġie intensifikat bl-użu ta’ kimiċi minflok deterġenti regolari. Barra minn hekk, il-kumpanija implimentat skeda addizzjonali tat-tindif tal-karozzi tal-linja matul il-ġurnata, speċjalment fiż-żona tal-kabina tas-sewwieq.
3. Il-kumpanija pprovdiet fliexken tas-sanitizer tal-idejn personali lill-impjegati kollha li għandhom kuntatt dirett mal-pubbliku, inklużi xufiera tal-karozzi tal-linja, u installaw sanitizzaturi tal-idejn immuntati mal-ħajt fil-faċilitajiet kollha tagħha.
4. Is-sewwieqa tal-karozzi tal-linja ġew inkarigati biex jiftħu t-twieqi kollha ġewwa l-karozzi tal-linja, u biex jitfu s-sistemi ta’ arja kundizzjonata, kif mitlub mill-awtoritajiet.
5. Mill-Ħamis 12 ta’ Marzu, il-kumpanija adottat politika ta’ “Bla Bqija” biex tillimita l-ammont ta’ flus kontanti skambjati bejn il-passiġġieri u s-sewwieqa. Għalhekk, il-passiġġieri huma meħtieġa jipprovdu bidla eżatta meta jixtru l-biljetti tagħhom.
6. Il-kumpanija ħadet il-prekawzjonijiet kollha meħtieġa li ġew imħabbra mill-Gvern. Dan jinkludi restrizzjonijiet fuq l-ivvjaġġar u l-kwarantina.

Malta Public Transport isostni li s-saħħa u s-sigurtà tal-impjegati tagħha u tal-passiġġieri tagħha huma prijorità ewlenija. Il-kumpanija se tkompli toħroġ aġġornamenti bil-miżuri li qed jiġu implimentati, skont il-livelli differenti stabbiliti fil-pjan kritiku li ġie kkoordinat mal-awtoritajiet.

L-omm tal-familja li rriżultat pożittiva għal Coronavirus fl-ewwel każ f’Malta, is-Sibt li għadda, issa rkuprat.

L-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa jikkonfermaw li t-testijiet li saru fuq medda ta’ żmien ta’ 24 siegħa rriżultaw negattivi. Għalhekk, skond il-linji gwida stabbiliti, il-mara hija kkunsidrata li rkuprat mill-Coronavirus.

Il-mara se tinħatt mill-Isptar Mater Dei u se tinżamm fi kwarantina fir-residenza tagħha għal ftit jiem oħra bħala prekawzjoni waqt li l-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa jibqgħu jsegwu s-sitwazzjoni.

Sadanittant, il-persuni kollha f’Malta li ġew ikkonfermati pożittivi għal COVID-19 jinsabu f’kundizzjoni tajba.

Il-Gvern jerġa’ jafferma l-appell tiegħu lill-pubbliku ġenerali għall-osservanza tad-direzzjonijiet u l-pariri maħruġa mill-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa, fost l-oħrajn il-kwarantina obbligatorja kif imħabbra, il-kanċellazzjoni ta’ avvenimenti tal-massa pubblika u vjaġġar mhux suċċessiv, u l-anzjani li joqogħdu d-dar kemm jista’ jkun.

Government is following attentively all developments related to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and is now in a position to announce the following decisions:

As from Friday 13^th March 2020, all schools (primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary) and childcare centers will be closed for a week.

A review of the situation will then be made and respective directives will be issued.

Meanwhile, with immediate effect, public mass events cannot be held. The public is advised not to attend any activities of the sort.

In collaboration with the Malta Football Association, all football matches of the Premier, First, Second, Third Divisions together with the U19 league, will be played behind closed doors.

Government and health authorities are closely following the developing situation in countries of transmission.

It is evident that the COVID-19 outbreak is increasing exponentially in France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany. Therefore, after taking the necessary medical advice, Government has decided to stop all air and sea travelling from and to these countries as from 23:59 of 11^th March.

The only permitted connection between Malta and these countries will be for the transport of goods and food.

As from today, 11^th of March, persons who enter Malta from France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany will be subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. 

On the other hand, persons who have been in Italy, China (including Hong Kong), Singapore, Japan, Iran and South Korea, from 27 February 2020 onwards, will be subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine upon their entry into Malta. This period starts from the last day that these persons were in any of these countries.

The mandatory quarantine will be enforced through regular police spot-checks and failure to observe this obligation will result in a fine of €1,000 for each time it is breached.

Government will not tolerate any irresponsible attitude from persons who try to avoid the mandatory quarantine.

There is no need for alarm. The situation is under control. Malta is prepared for every eventuality.

Air Malta has today suspended its daily flight to Milan until further notice due to the current situation in Northern Italy amid the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak, following the lockdown decree issued by the Italian Government.

Whilst calling for calm, the Airline stated that the US’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation do not suggest restricting flights to and from Milan in their recommendations.

However, on consultation with the Prime Minister, the responsible Minister and Government agencies, the management of Air Malta has resolved to take this decisive action as a measure of reassurance.

“The safety of our passengers, crew and staff, and the concerns raised by the people of Malta is our first priority”, said the Airline in a statement issued tonight.

All passengers affected by the cancellation of flights will be notified.

The airline is constantly monitoring the evolving situation and will announce any changes as they arise.

The Health Authorities are confirming that the parents of the child who tested positive earlier this morning have also resulted positive for COVID-19. The parents had already been isolated at Mater Dei Hospital with the child earlier today.

This situation is contained within the family which followed advice by the Health Authorities and, since returning from Italy, remained in self-quarantine. 

We would like to reassure the public that these cases are being kept in isolation.

To date, 181 tests have been carried out on people who were travelling in affected areas and developed symptoms. Only the 3 above family members tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition, 157 tests have also been carried as part of the surveillance programme and tested negative for COVID-19.

We would like to remind the public that there is no need for alarm and to take the necessary preventive measures of washing hands regularly, covering nose and mouth with a tissue or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing and staying home if sick. For further information, you may call the COVID-19 helpline on 111. 

Still no cases of Coronavirus in Malta. The general public will continue to be regularly informed of all the preparations through such press briefings.

This morning the Deputy Prime Minister presided over an inter-Ministerial meeting on Coronavirus.

Various Ministries and Government entities participated in this meeting.