Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1464183
TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT Free with MaltaToday SUNDAY • 10 APRIL 2022 • ISSUE 1171 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PAGE 2 Roads boss touted for CEO role at catering giant PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BIANCHI A MALTESE NIGHTMARE THE EL HIBLU 3 PAGES 14-15 Not enough nurses for COVID wards as cases rise KURT SANSONE THE former boss of the Infra- structure Malta road-building agency, Fredrick Azzopardi, is being touted for the role of CEO at the James Caterers group of companies. Azzopardi, who earlier in the week denied having been tapped for a position with the J Portelli Projects construction group, has refused to confirm his forthcom- ing private sector job. "I can't confirm or deny because that is something my new em- ployer, whoever it may be, will have to announce. It's not up to me," Azzopardi said when asked whether he will be taking up the role of CEO at James Caterers. The catering giant's business interests are not just limited to food- stuffs, where in 2020 alone, it reg- istered over €3.5 million in pre-tax profits. Medical professionals want better transparency, meaningful restrictions on COVID-19 KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA has witnessed an ex- ponential rise in COVID-19 infections as public health re- strictions were loosened in preparation for a return to pre-pandemic normality this summer. The island is following suit as more countries opt for a relax- ation of restrictions on travel, despite the rise of the BA.2 Omicron variant across the world – on Friday, health min- ister Chris Fearne announced that Malta will allow the un- vaccinated to travel to Malta on presentation of COVID-19 recovery certificates and rapid tests, a move widely welcomed by the Maltese tourism indus- try. Yet medical workers at Mater Dei Hospital have told Malta- Today they are experiencing pressure on all different fronts due to the rise in COVID hos- pitalisations. Yesterday, three patients died while COVID-positive, with 563 new infections registered over 24 hours, with total active cases now standing at 8,821. Nursing union boss Paul Pace (MUMN) said staffing had re- duced dramatically to some two to three nurses stationed in each Mater Dei ward, when international standards re- quired each ward to have one nurse to every four patients – at least six nurses for a Mater Dei ward. maltatoday €1.95 AJ www.gourmeoday.recipes ISSUE 63 • APRIL 2022 RECORD BUST Turkey route for cocaine seized in Malta is established Cali Cartel connection PAGE 10 PAGE 2