All driving tests postponed until further notice due to pandemic concerns

Dec 7 2021

Transport Malta revealed that all driving tests which were scheduled for the next few days, and possibly weeks, are postponed due to the pandemic.

Transport Malta said that as a ‘precautionary measure and to align with the guidelines issued by the Maltese Health Authorities, the DPTTU (Driver Permits, Testing and Training Unit) in Floriana will be closed until further noticed.’

Apologising for any inconveniences, Transport Malta said that it will be closely monitoring the situation and will inform the public when services will be returning to normal.

This comes as Malta experiences a significant increase in both new and active cases, with around 22 patients currently hospitalised. We will have to wait and see when car exams will be coming back!

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Photo Source: Daily Express, Google Maps

A new era of Rihanna music coming as she teases different style

Dec 7 2021

Rihanna fans might be in for a bit of a shock as the artist has stated that her ninth album will be completely different to her usual style. ‘Whatever you know of Rihanna’s not gonna be what you hear’ the 33-year-old singer teased, with her latest release ‘Anti’ coming out in 2016 and winning Favourite Soul/R&B Album.

Fans may have waited for a long time before getting anything Rihanna, despite the singer having been a national hero for Barbados. So she wasn’t exactly wasting time. At her latest Savage X Fenty show, Rihanna said that music is like fashion, and that one should be able to play. ‘I should be able to wear whatever I want and I treat music the same way.’

Fans have expressed doubt over the very existence of the album however. Many asked when the album will drop, with others simply asking whether or not we should believe her.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Time Magazine

Probe into first COVID voucher round inconclusive due to missing data

Dec 7 2021

The National Audit Office was unable to conclude the probe into the first COVID-19 vouchers round as data was missing and/or incomplete.

The round cost the government €45 million, but a new report published on Monday revealed that the NAO’s attempt to reconcile the vouchers proved futile.

The office expressed how it encountered significant problems whilst auditing the voucher scheme. The vouchers, launched in June 2020, saw every resident receiving five €20 vouchers by registered post.

The initial expiration date was set for September 30th, but it was extended to the 31st of October. It aimed at boosting the economy due to the pandemic.

The NAO discovered that payments to merchants for redeemed vouchers continued to be made until around March of this year.

The audit office said that since data continued to change, attempts to carry out reconciliations proved futile. Audit testing showed that around €850,000 were paid to merchants after closing date – translating to around 43,000 vouchers.

Despite the voucher scheme proving successful, improvements had to be implemented for the second round.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Silvio Schembri FB, BusinessToday

The Mater Dei Ultimatum – doctors call to solve internal disputes.

Dec 7 2021

Doctors in Malta have issued an ultimatum for the government and Mater Dei Hospital’s administration to resolve an internal dispute with phlebotomists.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses previously issued a directive to its members so that they limit the number of patients they see every day due to a lack of progress in a new sectoral agreement.

The dispute led to young doctors stepping in to draw patient’s blood themselves. The doctor’s union has stepped in, expressing its frustration at the situation.

Times of Malta spoke to Medical Association of Malta president Martin Balzan, who said that the issue must be solved.

‘We’ve had enough of dangerous directives. We gave them a deadline and the management knows it. It is high time that management either acknowledges their claim or else goes to court.’

Balzan highlighted how it was the hospital management’s responsibility to ensure the safety of patients and that the hospital operates efficiently.

Not all phlebotomists (medical professionals trained to draw blood) followed the directives but enough did so for this directive to have massive impact on the hospital’s operations.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Wikipedia, Training Direct