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WORLD NEWS Friday 5 June 2020

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 2, 2020, migrants dry their
clothes aboard a tourist boats some 20 kilometers from Malta.
Associated Press

Europe rights body urges

action for migrants

stuck off Malta

Signs requesting people keep their distance from each other are displayed on ticket barriers to
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Eu- barkation, has substantially help stop the spread of coronavirus in Waterloo station, London, Thursday, June 4, 2020.
rope's leading human rights increased,'' she said Thurs- Associated Press
organization is calling for day.
immediate action to bring SOS Mediterranee, a hu- Face coverings to be mandated on
to shore some 400 migrants manitarian group that has
transferred to chartered the Mediterranean Sea, public transport in England
that the Malta government operated rescue boats in
pleasure boats at sea. earlier this week lamented
The Council of Europe, that the migrants being LONDON (AP) — Passengers be mandated on planes mandatory.
based in Strasbourg, held on the chartered tour- on England's buses, sub- and ferries, though usage London Mayor Sadiq Khan
France, said in a statement ist boats were being used ways and trains will have to of both is not expected to said the government has
Thursday that the situation as political pawns. wear face coverings from pick up as fast as domestic "finally seen sense," adding
''is unsustainable and re- An Associated Press pho- June 15 when most shops modes of transport, espe- that there is "a large body
quires immediate action.'' tographer captured imag- reopen, the British govern- cially after the change of of evidence" showing that
The migrants have been liv- es of the migrants walking ment said Thursday. policy on quarantining. face coverings can help
ing aboard the boats just on the decks of the boats, It's the second time in as "We need to ensure every stop the spread of the virus.
out of Malta's territorial wa- their laundry hung from im- many days that the gov- precaution is taken, on Transport unions had also
ters, many for weeks, after provised clotheslines. Mal- ernment has adopted a buses, trains, aircraft and been urging the govern-
having been rescued from tese armed forces were measure that it didn't insist ferries," Shapps said. ment to make face cover-
human traffickers' unsea- arrayed in boats nearby, on when the coronavirus He also said face cover- ings compulsory after the
worthy boats in the Medi- keeping watch on the four pandemic swept through ings will be a "condition deaths of dozens of work-
terranean Sea. vessels usually used for the U.K. in March before of travel" and failure to ers.
Malta chartered the plea- pleasure excursions to ferry the lockdown was im- abide by the requirement Mick Cash, general secre-
sure cruise vessels after tourists to the tiny Mediter- posed. On Wednesday, the could potentially lead to tary of the Rail, Maritime
closing its ports due to the ranean island nation's at- government said it would fines. Young children and and Transport union, also
coronavirus emergency tractions. require anyone flying into people with disabilities and said the announcement
and says it is waiting for oth- France hasn't said how the U.K. from abroad to breathing difficulties will be was "long overdue."
er European Union mem- many migrants it will take quarantine for 14 days af- exempt. Last month, Shapps said 42
ber nations to step up and in, but has insisted it is up to ter their arrival. Currently passengers are people working at Trans-
take in the migrants. So far, the EU's executive commis- Transport Secretary Grant advised to wear a face port for London and 10
only France has agreed. sion to organize with other Shapps said face coverings covering but are not mainline rail staff had died
The Council of Europe's countries. will be mandatory from the stopped from travelling after being infected by
human rights commission- The European Commission date nonessential stores, without one. coronavirus.
er, Dunja Mijatovic, has has confirmed it is facilitat- such as department stores The new policy only applies On Thursday, the govern-
stressed in recent months ing talks among EU nations and electronics retailers, to England, but Shapps ment also reported that
that migrants should be to identify potential desti- are scheduled to reopen. said it may not be long be- another 176 people who
brought to shore safely nations for the passengers That easing of the lock- fore the other nations of the tested positive for the
and promptly despite the stuck on the boats off Mal- down will, he said, likely U.K. — Scotland, Wales and coronavirus had died in
coronavirus pandemic. The ta. lead to an increase in traf- Northern Ireland — adopt the U.K. in all settings. That
commissioner also has un- ''There is an urgent need for fic from the near-negligible the measure. Scottish First takes the U.K.'s total to
derlined that human lives cooperation and solidarity levels since the lockdown Minister Nicola Sturgeon 39,904, the world's second-
should not be put at risks between member states to was imposed on March 23. said her government was highest death toll in the
due to disagreements be- find solutions for those on "The evidence suggests also considering making it pandemic.q
tween EU member states. board the Captain Morgan wearing face coverings
"I am concerned that since boats,'' European Commis- offers some, albeit limited,
then, additional ships have sion spokesman Adalbert protection against the
been rented and that the Jahnz said Thursday. spread of the virus," he said
number of people kept ''They need to be dis- at the government's daily
on them, without a clear embarked as soon as briefing.
prospect of prompt disem- possible.''q Face coverings will also