An appeal to donate from second round COVID-19 vouchers

May 31 2021

The Sharing is Caring campaign, coordinated by the Sigma Foundation, Forestals and ‘Are You Being Served?’ (RUBS) are making an appeal for people to donate their vouchers and to donate around €2,000 worth to 11 charity organisations each. The three coordinating entities are aiming to collect a total of €20,000 and donate them to those in need.

The Sharing is Caring campaign is appealing to recipients of the vouchers to give them away before receiving them. So far, 60 have done so, with 140 left to go, as the government will be injecting €45 million into the new voucher round from June 7. A total of value of €100 will be distributed to all residents over 16. During the first round of vouchers, the initiative raised €5,000, with Sigma Foundation’s Keith Marshall stating that the initiative was late the first time around.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Silvio Schemrbi FB

Third wave of COVID-19 may have already started in UK

May 31 2021

Scientists have casted doubt on plans to lift all lockdown health restrictions in England by warning that a third wave of COVID-19 may have already begun. They also stated that rises in COVID-19 hospital admissions could leave the NHS struggling to cope as it tries to clear the huge backlog in non-COVID related cases.

Authorities are grappling with the idea of whether a rise in cases and the spread of the Indian COVID-19 variant could ruin Boris Johnson’s roadmap for reopening. Even though vaccination rollout in UK has been progressing, the new infections are putting health authorities in unsure waters as they cannot predict how they will translate into hospitalisation and deaths.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Engage Education, Wikipedia

Pfizer jab appointments delayed due to lack of vaccines

May 31 2021

The Malta Independent has reported that more vaccination appointments had to be postponed since Pfizer doses are as of yet unavailable. People turning up to receive the second jab were informed that appointments will have to be postponed and we’re told to call on Friday. The second dose is still not guaranteed on that day however.

The newsroom reported that despite over 7000 vaccine doses being administered every day, only 4212 were administer between Thursday and Friday, with only 2,902 between Friday and Saturday. The Health Ministry has not yet answered questions sent to it related to this issue. Malta has currently administered 512,214 doses, with 205,221 people fully vaccinated.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: BBC

Robert Abela ‘optimistic but cautious’ towards tourism season

May 30 2021

During a discussion programme organised by the Labour Party held earlier today, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that he looks forward to opening the tourism season with optimism but caution, going on to highlight that tourism generates a third of the country’s economy.

Abela segued into the importance of balance between the economy and public health, going on to reiterate his enthusiasm in working towards normality and went on to highlight that Malta registered a record-high in property sales during the pandemic.

With regards to the vaccine certificate, Abela stated that while we may come across some difficulties along the way, the government has paved the way to distribute this vaccine certificate and stated that it will not only be essential for travel but for access to activities which may have a higher-risk factor.

#MaltaDaily