3,300 people downloaded the COVID app in first three months of 2022

May 11 2022

According to statistics provided by servizz.gov in regards to governmental services, the COVID-19 application COVID Alert Malta was downloaded up to 3,364 times in the first quarter of 2022.

COVID Alert Malta was the most popular application, according to statistics, and the number of total downloads of mobile apps through the maltapps launcher in the same period was 11,513.

The app was launched in September of 2020 for COVID-19 contact tracing. It was used by people to see whether they were in close proximity to a person who registered positive to COVID-19.

Just a few days after the application was launched, Health Minister Chris Fearne revealed that 45,000 people had downloaded it.

As of now, from the day the first COVID-19 case was registered in Malta (March 6th 2020), 93,041 people contracted COVID-19. 89,273 recuperated whereas 713 people died due to the virus. As of yesterday, Tuesday 10th May 2022, there were 2,659 active cases in the community.

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Chef Sean Gravina highlights price increases between 2019 and 2022

May 11 2022

Taking to social media, local chef Sean Gravina highlighted the price hikes which have occurred from the year 2019 to the current year 2022.

Posting on his Instagram story, Gravina posted an image of a 2019 message, stating that salmon cost €9.00. He then shared another image indicating that salmon prices have spiked to €14.50.

In the first message, Gravina highlighted that smoked salmon cost €16.75, indicating that the price for smoked salmon has also significantly increased given the spike for normal salmon.

‘Gone are the days’ said Gravina. This comes various reports and other studies show that families are having to pay more for basic goods and products. A recent study by Caritas indicated that families of four are spending at least €100 more peer month on food.

The study shows that basic food prices jumped by 20% between July 2020, when the study was last carried out, and February 2022.

The study unveiled today used the same basket of goods used in its 2020 study, which was titled; ‘A Minimum Essential Budget for a Decent Living.’ Back in 2020, a family of four, two adults and two children, would spend €600 monthly, or a €7100 yearly, to live decently.

In less than two years later, the same family would have to spend €700 per month, or €8,400 annually, for the same products. A family of one adult and two kids would spend €430 monthly in 2020, going up to €526 in 2022.

Opposition Party leader Bernard Grech also called out for an urgent addressing of the rising cost of living. Addressing a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, the opposition leader said that the cost of living is leaving many families struggling and that the government needs to address the situation to alleviate such poverty and suffering.

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Masks no longer obligatory on flights from May 16 says ECDC

May 11 2022

Wearing masks onboard flights will no longer be obligatory as of May 16th, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the ECDC issued an update to health safety measures for air travel on Wednesday. This paves the way for relaxation of the need to wear masks during flights.

However, the ECDC said that rules for masks in particular will continue to vary by airline beyond the date. Flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage the practice.

The agencies both still recommend masks as one of the main protections against the virus, saying that vulnerable passengers especially should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules.

The ECDC said in a statement that passengers are encouraged to observe distancing measures in indoor areas, including at the airport.

‘But airport operators should adopt a pragmatic approach to this: for example, they should avoid imposing distancing requirements if these will very likely lead to a bottleneck in another location in the passenger journey, especially if they are not required at national or regional level in other similar settings.’

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Late Joseph Ellul’s partner pays touching tribute

May 11 2022

Tributes have been pouring in for 38-year-old Joseph Ellul, the worker identified as having died in an accident in WasteServ’s incinerator.

Among those paying tribute were his partner, Bernice Bugeja, who, devastated by her loss, asked; ‘I love you, why did you leave me alone?’.

She went on to reveal that they had just ended a phone call when the accident happened. ‘My love for you will never end.’

Tributes for the late Joseph Ellul also poured in on his grieving partner’s social media posts. Many expressed their condolences, urging her to keep courage and showing their compassion.

The 38-year-old, known by many as ‘ix-Xlukkajr’, died at around 9am yesterday morning after he was allegedly caught in work machinery. WasteServ also took to social media to express their devastation at the death.

‘We note with deep regret that this morning a fatal accident occurred at our Thermal Treatment Facility in Marsa. At the moment, all our thoughts and energy are with the victim’s relatives and friends, and his co-workers who together formed part of our family.’

Politicians also expressed their condolences, among them Energy Minister Miriam Dalli. She said that ‘up until [yesterday] morning, Joseph went out for another day of work only to end up not finishing it. In such moments it is difficult to find words of condolences.’

Rest in Peace Joseph.

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