COVID positive pregnant mothers can be joined by partners

Apr 12 2022

Pregnant mothers positive for COVID-19 will no longer give birth on their own, even if their partner is in quarantine.

Health Minister Chris Fearne announced on Monday that expectant mothers who test positive for the virus will be allowed on other person in the ward during childbirth.

If their partner is in mandatory quarantine but has no COVID symptoms, they can remain in the same room with the mother throughout the while process. Such cases will however need permission beforehand, which can be acquired by emailing [email protected].

Expectant mothers have been trying to get health authorities to remove the remaining COVID restrictions for some time now as they stopped fathers from attending the childbirth.

During the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, partners could only be present during the pushing stage of delivery. This was eased to allow fathers to be present for the birth. Fearne was speaking during a visit to St Vincent de Paul as residents received their second COVID booster.

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Farmer grievously injured in ploughing accident

Apr 12 2022

A 50-year-old man from Hal Safi was transported to Mater Dei after injuring himself while working with a mechanised plough.

The incident, which took place at 5:30pm in a field on the limits of Hal Kirkop, resulted in the man suffering from grievous injuries. Investigations are still ongoing.

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Malta will halt pending requests by Russia to post new diplomats

Apr 12 2022

Speaking on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said that Malta will be halting Russia’s pending request to deploy new diplomatic officials in the country.

Speaking during a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Borg was addressing the ongoing Ukrainian war. Borg reiterated Malta’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to guarantee safe evacuation corridors as well as allow the delivery of much humanitarian aid.

The Minister said that Malta will support efforts taken at EU level to address the immediate needs of the war torn country and its citizens.

The UN Charter, International law, and other relevant international agreements need to be upheld, said Borg. Emphasising the importance of unity, the minister noted other EU member states’ measures on the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

He explained how Malta’s constraints in undertaking such a measure due to the limitations of its diplomatic presence in Russia. Malta will thus be freezing Russia’s pending request to deploy new diplomatic officials in the country.

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Church schools urge government to rethink mask removal measure

Apr 12 2022

Malta’s church schools have urged the government to reconsider the removal of masks in classrooms.

With the mandatory wearing of masks in schools set to stop on Wednesday, the schools highlighted how there is a record number of sick students and staff.

The schools said that the decision is expected to leave an impact on parents who will have to remain at home to take care of their children.

Church schools said that throughout discussion with government in regards to COVID-19 measures, they were in favour of the eventual removal of masks but that they acknowledge how they were an effective measure in controlling the pandemic in schools.

‘Therefore, considering that students often spend up to six hours a day together in the same room, this should be the last measure to be withdrawn’. They went on to appeal to government to reconsider the decision, recommending that masks be worn until the end of May.

If the decision to remove masks as of 13th April is retained, church schools insisted that each school should be allowed to mandate their use independently, according to its own context and decision.

The statement went on to say that if the two options above are not considered, then government should mandate that the removal of masks in schools should only occur for outdoor areas.

The decision to remove masks next Wednesday, the church schools said, will risk damaging the positive progress made in managing the pandemic in Malta, especially in schools.

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