Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1220238
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 MARCH 2020 NEWS Coronavirus CHURCHES have removed holy water from fonts and priests are sanitising their hands before delivering holy communion as the religious au- thorities join efforts to combat the coronavirus. The instructions to parishes were issued on Monday by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Cur- mi in a bid to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. Priests are being urged to sanitise their hands before mass starts and before delivering com- munion, and making this visible for the congre- gation. In a video blog, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said the church was following all recommenda- tions issued by the civil health authorities and urged people to do likewise. "It is our moral obligation, our civic duty and an act of Christian charity to take care of ourselves and others," Scicluna said. The church has asked Catholics to join in spe- cial prayer and adoration on Thursday and Fri- day. Key measures adopted: No holy water in church fonts; Holy com- munion is delivered only in the hands and not the mouth; Priests have to sanitise their hands before mass and before delivering communion; Lay people who administer communion have to sanitise hands before handling the host; Hosts must be dipped in wine rather than have people drink from the chalice in those instances where communion is done with both substances. The measures came into force as Malta regis- tered its fourth case of coronavirus on Monday and the government announced a travel ban to Italy. The neighbouring country announced a coun- try-wide lockdown after Covid-19 continued to spread rapidly across the territory. AIR Malta will be operating a limited number of flights to Italy to repatriate Maltese citizens back to Malta and to carry cargo and urgent medical supplies for hospitals The airline said on Tuesday that it was suspend- ing all other flights to and from Italy, following the announcement by Prime Minister Robert Abela last night of a travel ban to the country in light of the spread of the coronavirus. The repatriation will be coordinated by the Min- istry for Foreign and European Affairs Office. Air Malta said it was constantly in touch with various authorities and was closely monitoring the evolving situation surrounding Covid-19. The airline will be keeping its customers updated through its website, www.airmalta.com, and social media channels including www.facebook.com/ AirMalta/. Ryan Air suspends all Italian flights up to 8 April Ryanair today also announced the suspension of its full flight schedule to/from and within Italy, fol- lowing the decision of the Italian government to "lock down" the entire country. The flight cuts will be implemented as follows: From 12am Wednesday, 11 March until 12am Wednesday, 8 April, Ryanair will suspend all Ital- ian domestic flights. From 12am Friday, 13 March until 12am Wednesday, 8 April, Ryanair will suspend all Ital- ian international flights. All affected passengers have received email no- tices from Ryan Air today informing them of these flight cancellations, the airline said. Passengers looking for repatriation can obtain a free move to an earlier Ryanair flight operating up until mid- night 13 March. Affected passengers will be able to choose between a full refund or a travel credit that can be redeemed on Ryanair flights in the next 12 months. Air Malta to operate limited flights to repatriate Maltese citizens in Italy Churches remove holy water, priests have to sanitise their hands curb coronavirus spread THERE is no evidence to suggest that there have been transmis- sions of the coronavirus in Mal- ta with all positive cases being traced back to Italy, Charmaine Gauci said. The Public Health Superin- tendent said that once cases of domestic transmission are re- corded, the next phase of the coronavirus contingency plan kicks in. "There is no evidence to sug- gest that there is local trans- mission and all cases we have recorded so far were contracted in Italy's northern region," Gau- ci said. She was fielding questions from journalists during a demonstra- tion carried out at a new swab- bing centre opened in Luqa. Gauci said swabbing is also being carried out in Gozo, with samples being brought to labs in Malta. Anyone testing positive will be transferred to one of the centres equipped to receive Covid-19 pa- tients. Gauci said 18 beds at Mater Dei Hospital's Infectious Disease Unit and a number of other beds at the Intensive Therapy Unit have been made available to treat Covid-19 patients. A centre with 12 beds at an un- disclosed location will be cater- ing for coronavirus patients also. Gauci said new procedures regarding the admission of stu- dents at schools will also be re- leased in the coming hours. Mal- taToday is informed that schools have been instructed to ask for a doctor's certificate ensuring clearance even for a day's ab- sence. Gauci said the coronavirus helpline 111 received around 2,500 calls every day since its inception, with inquiries spiking when confirmed cases are re- ported in the media. No evidence of local transmission, Public Health Superintendent says Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci Call the Malta government COVID-19 helpline at 111. Call the Malta Department of Public Health Disease Surveillance Unit at +356 2132 4086 if you believe you have contracted COVID-19. Covid-19 information