The families of people who have died from Covid-19 will receive an extra €10 voucher, the government has announced.
The measure was unveiled by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna during his budget speech yesterday, after he announced that the vouchers scheme would be renewed in January.
45 people have died from Covid-19 in Malta, while several others are currently in Mater Dei Hospital’s intensive treatment unit.
“While nothing can ever replace a loved one, we hope that a pizza or a new pair of jeans will come close,” Scicluna said.
“Or maybe the voucher could be used to print a t-shirt with the deceased’s face on it at Go Bananas. I don’t know, I’m just spitballing here,” he said.
The extra voucher will be sent to the families of the people who have already died from the Coronavirus, as well as the relatives of those who die by January.
“Now at least when people hear the news that someone has died, their first thought won’t be ‘Oh no, how sad’, but ‘well at least their family gets to eat out for free.'”
Having said that, Scicluna warned against exploiting the gesture.
“Hopefully people won’t try to get their parents and grandparents infected on purpose, otherwise this could turn out to be very expensive,” the minister added.
