Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1279544
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Coronavirus MATTHEW VELLA THE turnover from selected services ac- tivities has decreased by a massive 27.1% over the same quarter in 2019, as a result of reducing consumption and working hours from the COVID-19 pandemic. Seasonally adjusted services turnover went down by 27.3 per cent over the pre- vious quarter. The NSO data was compiled from 900 questionnaires to businesses, requesting information on turnover, employment, wages and salaries, comparing these lev- els with previous years. Decreases in turnover were recorded in the accommodation and food service ac- tivities (87.1 per cent), administrative and support service activities (49.3 per cent), transportation and storage (47.6 per cent), real estate activities (46.5 per cent), motor trade (37.3 per cent), wholesale trade (21.8 per cent), retail trade (13.5 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical activities (8.5 per cent). Conversely, an increase of 14.8 per cent was registered in the information and communication activities. Employ- ment, gross wages and salaries, and hours worked declined by 7.8, 5.2 and 10.8 per cent respectively over the corresponding quarter in 2019. When compared to the previous quar- ter, the seasonally adjusted services turn- over index recorded a decrease of 27.3 per cent. Lower turnover was recorded in the ac- commodation and food service activities (94.3 per cent), transportation and stor- age (46.7 per cent), administrative and support service activities (44.0 per cent), motor trade (33.0 per cent), real estate activities (29.3 per cent), wholesale trade (24.2 per cent), retail trade (15.4 per cent) and professional, scientifi c and technical activities (15.1 per cent). On the other hand, an increase of 3.2 per cent was registered in the information and communication activities. The sea- sonally adjusted employment and gross wages and salaries and hours worked) decreased by 9.8, 9.4 and 12.3 per cent respectively. COVID-19 wipes out 87% of turnover for accommodation and food services NSO data on turnover from service activities shows various Maltese businesses lost over 27% of their business during the COVID-19 lockdown KARL AZZOPARDI THE University has issued MATSEC exams concessions for candidates who are in man- datory quarantine. Students in mandatory quar- antine looking to join courses with limited spaces will be of- fered the opportunity to sit for their examinations at home un- der supervision. MATSEC said students look- ing to enrol within courses with limited availability like dental surgery and medicine, will be admitted to the course of their choice if they obtain all the General and Special Course Re- quirements by the September 20202 session. It also said that applicants looking to join other undergrad- uate courses and are currently in mandatory quarantine will be allowed to join their first prefer- ence course in October 2020 as temporary students. These students will then have to sit for the Advanced and In- termediate level examinations by the December 2020 exami- nation session. "If they obtain at least 36 points they will continue the course as probationary students until the end of the academic year. If they obtain less than 36 points, they will be withdrawn from the course," MATSEC said. The concessions will only ap- ply for students in mandatory quarantine, and will not apply to students who are sick or absent. Due to SEC examinations not being held in December 2020, students applying to join the Junior College, and who will be in mandatory quarantine ordered by the health authori- ties during the September 2020 examination session, will be al- lowed to join the Junior College as probationary students until the end of the academic year. Once students are informed by the Health Authorities that they must remain in mandato- ry quarantine they are required to immediately inform MAT- SEC Support Unit by sending an email on matsec@um.edu. mt which should include also a copy of the document issued by the Health Authorities. MATSEC issues exam concessions for students in mandatory quarantine