Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/405994
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2014 News 5 HOTELIERS have been instructed to display warning signs about Ebo- la in hotel lobbies to draw the atten- tion of tourists who have been to an Ebola-affected region in Africa over the past three weeks. The effort comes from an initia- tive of the public health authorities and the Malta Association of Hospi- tality Executives. Hotels will be asking every tour- ist on checking-in if they came from one of the affected Ebola countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ni- geria (Lagos) and Congo (Boende, Lokolia and Watsi Kengo) within the last 21 days, as public health au- thorities would like to be informed to provide them with information as to what to do if they fall ill. If they answer yes, the receptionist should contact the public health au- thorities (PHA) on 21324086 imme- diately, while the tourist is in front of them, so further instructions can be given. The receptionist should keep a record of these tourists so if they fall ill, they will contact PHA immediately themselves and ask the tourists to remain in their hotel room until further instructions by PHA. "It is advisable that hotels keep a few thermometers available for the tourists as they will need to monitor their temperature every morning," the PHA said. If a tourist collapses in a common area in the hotel, no one should touch the tourist before first ask- ing any person accompanying the ill tourist if there had been travel to an Ebola-affected country within the last 21 days. "If the answer is 'Yes', then no one touches the person," and the area around the tourist should be kept clear, and the receptionist calls 21324086 and casualty ambulance on 112. If the answer is 'No', then the person can be assisted and the hotel doctor can be contacted," the PHA said. The same procedure should be applied if a room attendant enters a room and finds a tourist unwell. The room attendant must ask any person accompanying the ill tourist the questions about travel. "If a staff member touches a possi- ble suspected case of Ebola with the bare hands, if confirmed from travel information, they must wash their hands thoroughly with soap and wa- ter." The same procedure should be followed if a tourist dies in the ho- tel. Get a travel history first before touching the body. If confirmed that it is a possible Ebola case, the Po- lice and PHA are to be informed on 21324086. "Cord off the area where there is the body so no one goes near the body until the PHA arrive," the PHA said. Ebola is transmitted through di- rect contact with blood or other bodily fluids (e.g. saliva, urine) from infected people, alive or dead. This includes unprotected sexual contact with patients up to seven weeks af- ter they have recovered. The disease can also be transmit- ted by direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids from wild animals, dead or alive, such as mon- keys, forest antelopes and bats, or by contact with contaminated objects. The Ebola virus is not transmitted through the air or water. After two days and up to 21 days following exposure to the virus the disease may start suddenly with fe- ver, muscle aches, weakness, head- ache, sore throat, abdominal pain. This is followed by vomiting, diar- rhoea, rash, bruising and in some cases, bleeding. There is no specific vaccine or treatment for the disease. Casual contact in public places with people who do not appear to be sick does not transmit Ebola. Nor is the Ebola virus contracted by handling money, groceries or swim- ming in a pool. Mosquitoes do not transmit the Ebola virus. The virus is easily killed by soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying. Machine washing clothes that have been con- taminated with fluids will destroy the Ebola virus, which survives only a short time on surfaces that are in the sun or have dried. Notice of meeting to be held in public e Malta Environment & Planning Authority will meet on ursday 30 th October 2014 at 14:00 hours at the MEPA boardroom, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana, to discuss the following: DETERMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL APPLICATIONS: PA 3019/14: Site at, Mater Dei Hospital, Triq Dun Karm, Msida To relocate approved 68 bed medical admission unit (MAU) and plant rooms approved in PA 2949/13 to new site within MDH boundary and to add two additional oors to serve as national crisis unit (NCU). PA 1520/14: Site at, Lemon Lime & Orange, Triq J. Borg, Msida Change of use from approved class 4 shop (PA 2525/08 - change of use from garage to class 4 shop and xing of sign) into class 4D outlet including internal alterations, sanctioning changes to shop front, and xing of shop sign (already approved). PA 1356/14: Site at, L'Amico Garage, Triq Bordin c/w, Triq il-Bacir, Msida To change use of existing commercial premises licensed (41/567) to sell trailer parts 'bamber' to snack bar selling hot and cold drinks and pre-prepared snacks (no cooking) and form w.c. no advertising. Subject to the maximum seating capacity, seats can be reserved on request for the applicant and registered objectors. Remaining seating is lled on a rst come rst served basis. RESERVATIONS: 2290 2018 24 th October, 2014 www.mepa.org.mt Credit rating agency reaffirms Malta's A3 rating Malta's debt relative to rating peers 'high' • IIP expected to generate revenues worth 0.57% of GDP in 2015 MIRIAM DALLI CREDIT rating agency Moody's reaf- firmed Malta's A3 rating, supported by the "healthy outlook" on its econ- omy and the government's access to a large and reliable domestic funding pool. Moody's has forecast a real growth of around 2.8% in 2015, while revealing that Malta's citizenship programme is expected to generate revenues worth 0.57% of GDP in 2015. The rating agency pointed out Mal- ta's high debt, currently standing at 70% of GDP, flagging Enemalta as the most prominent source of contingent liability risk. Enemalta's debt, equiva- lent to around 10% of GDP, is guaran- teed by the government. "Despite the company's ongoing re- structuring and the progress achieved under the energy reform, it is too early to assess whether the new framework will allow the company to become financially viable," Moody's report says. It explained that, from a risk per- spective, the participation of several private and experienced energy pro- viders limits implementation risk, but financial/fiscal risks will continue weighing on the sovereign over the medium term. "Indeed, 85% of Enemalta's debt is guaranteed by the government, which means that as long as there are uncer- tainties surrounding the company's capacity to return to profitability un- der this reformed framework, which there are, the government is exposed to contingent liability risks." Moody's argue that while Enemalta's liquidity problems are set to ease once the firm formalizes an agreement with Shanghai Electric Power, "the longer-term financial sustainability of the corporation will remain a key source of uncertainty". According to Moody's, the govern- ment's draft budgetary plan for 2015 should put fiscal consolidation on a good footing: we forecast that Malta's fiscal deficit will drop to 1.7% of GDP in 2015, the same year we expect debt to begin falling after having peaked at 70% of GDP in 2013-14." Private consumption and capital formation are expected to be the main growth drivers, boosted by invest- ment in the energy sector. "This would mark a break from the post-financial crisis period, when growth was primarily driven by exter- nal forces," Moody's said. The 2.8% real growth is expected to be supported by "the health of house- holds' balance sheet, which features low indebtedness and low debt serv- ice". While the main policy challenges lie in improving productivity and making the allocation of domestic resources more supportive to productive capi- tal formation, the government has so far primarily focused on improving the efficiency of the energy sector as well as that of the labour market in general. Over the past decade, the economy became increasingly services-based with the key pillars being an impor- tant and long-established financial in- dustry and a growing tourism sector. Malta's economy is geographically diversified as it relies on goods and services exports to a relatively wide variety of markets. However, the manufacturing sector's contribution to the overall economy has declined somewhat. "It is undergoing a restructuring process, shifting away from labour- intensive industries, such as tex- tiles, clothing and footwear, to more capital-intensive activities, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals," Moody's report. On the other hand, the tourism industry has retained its strategic importance in Malta's economy, con- tributing to growth and exploiting the island's central position, good con- nectivity and competing tourism des- tinations becoming less attractive. Moody's warn that constraints on profitability and possible EU-led tax harmonization – such as the Finan- cial Transaction Tax (FTT) – could negatively impact Malta's financial services industry. Moody's also reports on the govern- ment's progress in tackling two key bottlenecks which were negatively af- fecting productivity and effectiveness: inefficiencies in the labour market and in the energy sector which led to high energy prices. The government has already antici- pated the impact of the energy sector restructuring on electricity prices, re- flected in a 25% decrease in regulated electricity tariffs for residential and domestic users in March 2014. The government also intends to extend the 25% cut in tariffs to commercial users in 2015. 'Policies felt at every level of society' – Scicluna Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that Moody's report confirmed that the government's fiscal and eco- nomic policy is taking Malta in the right direction. "The overall sentiment in the coun- try is one of optimism. Our policies are trickling down and being felt at every level of society. This is confirmed by Moody's highlighting of higher do- mestic consumption, which confirms we are making a positive difference in people's lives," Scicluna said. "This also confirms that budget measures introduced last year result- ed in Malta ranking among the UE's top-performers on economic growth, employment, and unemployment. We shall be looking towards the coming budget to build further on these re- sults." Scicluna welcomed Moody's posi- tive endorsement of Malta's 2015 draft budget plan recently submitted to the European Commission. High government debt 'source of concern' – Busuttil On his part, leader of the Opposi- tion Simon Busuttil said Malta's high rate of government debt was a source of concern, increasing by €500 million during the first six months of 2014. "This high debt effectively means that taxpayers have to shoulder a €3 million daily debt. I worry when, out of the 28 EU member states, Malta's imports and exports fare the worst," he said. Busuttil said he had no qualms in praising the economy when improve- ments are registered: "But one cannot ignore those crucial areas that are suf- fering." Hotel staff receive advisory on Ebola