Booster doses for teachers, pharmacists and carers by first week of December

Oct 7 2021

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne announced during a press conference that in the first week of December, the booster vaccine dose for COVID-19 will be offered to health care workers, pharmacists, carers and teachers in schools. This comes as the booster rollout continues for immunocompromised and elderly patients in homes. The booster has prevented further infection and death in these areas and thus the booster rollout will help mitigate spread further.

The Health Minister highlighted how this booster rollout will also help mitigate the spread of the seasonal influenza virus which could be potentially made worse because of COVID-19 in schools. As of yesterday, around 835,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered, with 20,000 of these being booster doses. The epidemiological case around the globe is not as well defended against the pandemic, highlighted the minister, with Malta’s successful vaccine rollout contributing to the easing of restrictions and a gradual return to normalcy.

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Lamin Jaiteh receives heart-warming get well soon’ letter by year 7 students

Oct 7 2021

Lamin Jaiteh was pleasantly surprised at Mater Dei Hospital when he received a ‘get well soon’ card by year 7 students from Saint Elias College. The migrant worker was abandoned on a pavement by his employers after suffering grievous injuries on a construction site. The incident sparked national outrage, protests and a court case, with many expressing their solidarity with Lamin.

The secondary school published photos of Lamin holding up the card in his hospital bed after Mr Karl Carabott delivered the heart warming message in the name of the students. Lamin said that despite being physically hurt, his heart is full due to the love and support the students showed him. The inside of the card was filled with comments by individual students, all encouraging him on. The incident also resulted in hundreds of Maltese coming to Lamin’s support, with a fundraiser raising around €31,600 to help him.

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Photo Source: Saint Elias College Malta

Pope Francis’ visit to Malta postponed as election speculation rises

Oct 7 2021

The Pope’s visit to Malta has been postponed yet again amid concerns of a spike in COVID-19 cases but also due to speculation of an election. Times of Malta confirmed that both Valletta and the Vatican have agreed to hold off for the time being, despite December being the month the Pope was set to visit the island. Sources close to the discussion stated that the two main reasons were the pandemic’s resurgence in cases and the possibility of an election announcement.

Governmental sources have revealed that one of the criteria set by the Vatican during discussions was that the visit would not take place within a few weeks, before or after, an election. Times of Malta was also informed last month that Prime Minister Robert Abela’s advisers were positing November as the ideal month for an election.

Abela has since been mum on the reveal, saying that a snap election is not on the cards. Government sources said Malta informed the Vatican that December would be the ideal window for the Pope to visit. Despite Castille singling out the first week of December as ideal for the visit, both parties have since amended the decision, stating that it had to be postponed to 2022 for obvious reasons.

Once a new date for the visit is agreed upon, having been pushed back twice, the visit to Malta will be mark the third pontiff to visit the island.

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Photo Source: Robert Abela FB, France 24

Speed cameras outside Santa Venera tunnels removed

Oct 7 2021

Recommendations by Transport Malta made to Cabinet to remove two speed cameras outside the Santa Venera tunnels were approved. Transport Malta’s chairman Joe Bugeja stated that after the improvement works in the main road and the completion of the tunnels, the speed cameras became redundant. The authority revealed that Cabinet approved the recommendations submitted by experts to remove the speed cameras from main arterial roads.

The recommendations came in as a result of projects done by Infrastructure Malta in the area. These include the Marsa-Hamrun bypass and the removal of traffic lights further down. With these interventions, Bugeja stated, traffic is bound to flow better. He also pointed out how the cameras did not solve the problems they were intended to solve. It made more sense to just remove them entirely, with another area currently being sought after to place them there. Studies on where accidents happen are being done, with the Home Affairs Ministry and the Local Enforcement Agency participating in the study.

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Photo Source: Malta Chamber of Commerce, Arnold Clark