Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1275680
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Coronavirus President refuses to answer over August Moon Ball event amid COVID-19 spike KARL AZOPARDI PRESIDENT George Vella walked away when asked whether it was appropriate for the August Moon Ball to be held last Saturday as COVID-19 cases surged. The annual gala charity event is or- ganised by the President at the Verdala Palace to raise funds for the Commu- nity Chest Fund Foundation. It is nor- mally a sit-down dinner, followed by dancing. This year's event took place last Sat- urday, 48 hours after the government reintroduced a number of restrictive measures on mass events. The Office of the President did not communicate publicly as to whether new precautionary measures were tak- en for this year's event. And Vella simply ignored the Mal- taToday journalist on Tuesday when asked if he felt it was appropriate for the event to go ahead. Vella was exiting from the Chamber of Commerce in Valletta where he at- tended a presentation of findings by a post-COVID economic think-tank. The President did not once acknowl- edge the questions put to him and sim- ply walked off to his official car. Vella was also asked for his message to people in the wake of the recent COVID-19 surge. President George Vella walks away when asked by MaltaToday whether it was appropriate to hold the August Moon Ball charity event in the wake of a surge of COVID-19 cases 16 new cases of COVID-19 were registered between Monday and Tuesday, according to the lat- est figures released by the Health Ministry. The ministry said that five of yesterday's cases formed part of the Santa Venera feast cluster, two formed part of the Paceville cluster, five cases were related to previously known cases, while the remainder were sporadic. No new patients have recovered, with the total number of active cases standing at 215. Since the start of the pandemic in March, 666 people have recovered from the virus and nine patients have died. In the past 24 hours, 1,502 swab tests were carried out, with a grand total of 133,105 tests having been carried out so far on the island. 16 new COVID-19 cases, five linked to Santa Venera feast LAURA CALLEJA TRANSPORT Malta is conducting spot checks on bus- es to ensure that passengers are wearing face masks. Face masks are still mandatory on public transport and the spot checks come at a time when Malta is expe- riencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Taking to social media watchdog said that enforce- ment officers were conducting spot checks on buses to make sure that regulations were being adhered to. "Face masks are still mandatory on public transport at all times! Enforcement officers are spot-checking buses to make sure that this is being followed by all passen- gers!" the post said. The island has recently seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, with active cases now standing at 215. Known clusters have been linked to the Santa Venera festa, the Radisson Hotel Takeover party and Paceville. The World Health Organisation argues that face masks protect people from getting infected, as well as prevent those who have symptoms from spreading them. Spot checks being carried out on buses to ensure face masks are worn