Dozens crushed to death at religious festival in Israel

Apr 30 2021

As 100,000 rushed to the Galilee tomb of 2 CE sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai for the annual Lag BaOmer commemorations, 44 people have been killed and 150 injured in a crowd crush in the northern Israel gathering. Taking place during one of Israels worst peacetime disasters, director of an Israeli volunteer ambulance, Eli Beer, said that even children were found among those dead.

Permission had only been given to 10,000 people to attend the festival at Mount Meron, which was the largest event held in Israel since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Footage showed how people were allegedly trampled or asphyxiated in a narrow passageway as they attempted to exit, with the cause of the crushing being so far unconfirmed. Corrugated iron walls were frantically pulled at in the confusion and mobile phone reception crashed as families desperately tried to contact missing loved ones.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Reuters, Bpositivenow

16 COVID-19 cases registered with 55 recoveries

15 COVID-19 cases registered overnight with 74 recoveries

Apr 30 2021

Malta has registered 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 1,761 swab tests, while 55 patients have recovered. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Friday 30th April 2021, 331,438 vaccine doses were administered of which 105,628 were 2nd doses.

To date, Malta has registered 30,292 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 29,548 have recovered, 413 died and 331 are still active.

#MaltaDaily

More telework during 2021 quasi-lockdown than when COVID-19 first hit

Apr 30 2021

It seems that more people decided to work from home during 2021’s quasi-lockdown following the whopping 510 COVID-19 positive cases last month, than when the pandemic first hit last year. New Google data shows that visits to workplaces after the health authorities and government announced remote learning and teleworking due to a spike in cases dropped significantly by some 80%.

March 2020 only saw a 50% drop in the same category, with 2021’s statistic being significantly higher. To the contrary, drop in visits to retail and recreational outlets was at 40% last month despite the closure of non-essentials, whereas 2020 saw a significant 75% drop. Visits to open spaces such as beaches and parks increased 40% as many decided to get some fresh air due to the many hours spent inside – assuming, of course, they were not in mandatory quarantine.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA

Two out of three youths have tried cannabis

Apr 30 2021

A research commissioned by the university student’s council KSU has revealed that around two-thirds of youth have tried smoking cannabis at some point in their life, with the majority still using the substance. MISCO International carried out the study and focused on drug use and regulation in Malta. Forming part of the awareness campaign called ‘Beyond the Influence’, the research was carried out in January and February.

67% of the 976 participants, with ages varying from 16 and 34, revealed that they have used drugs for recreational purposes, with 60% still using substances. A third of those who tried it were women, with a majority stating that they used it at the age of 17 to 19. Cannabis was mostly sought after as around 98%, with hallucinogens following at 46% and stimulants at 38%.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: chuangchoem, Sayles