Education staff outcry for COVID-19 vaccinations timeline

Mar 9 2021

Education staff are concerned as they have not yet received appointments for vaccination. Schools are thus demanding a clear plan on rolling out vaccinations for the ‘forgotten’ teachers which have not yet revived their jabs. Director of Educational Mission Stephen Cachia has stated that De La Salle College has nearly 300 staff member which have not received appointments.

The unnecessary stress and tension is being caused mainly due to the teacher’s direct contact with students. Most church and independent schools have also not yet received invitations for vaccination. The tension seems to heighten due to the fact that schools will remain open instead of shifting to an online learning system and thus contact with other staff and students will be necessary.

#MaltaDaily

China introduces virus passports

Mar 9 2021

China has just launched virus passports as part of its health certificate programme. Domestic travellers now use digital certificates which show a user’s vaccination status and the test results. Available on a Chinese social media platform WeChat which was launched on Monday, the certificates are being implemented to ease the pressure on the economy and travel that the pandemic is creating.

The certificates are not yet mandatory and are available only by Chinese citizens. However, this is a big step towards safe travelling during the pandemic, with the USA and Britain considering implementing similar permits. Some citizens however have raised concerns over privacy concerns due to the app’s location tracking.

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Switzerland to ban Burqa from being worn in public places

Mar 9 2021

Switzerland has recently voted for banning Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public places. This decision follows from countries like France, Belgium and Austria after years of discussion. Referendum results for March 7th, 2021 show that the voting has gained a narrow majority of 51%.

Public places which fall under this new voting rule will include shopping malls or even open countryside. Places of worship or ‘native customs’ will be the exceptions to the rule. Switzerland’s parliament are reportedly opposed to the referendum proposal, instead proposing an initiative that involves lifting the veil when confirming identity to officials.

#MaltaDaily

‘COVID poor’ citizens line up for food in Milan

Mar 9 2021

Outside Milan’s Pane Quotidiano charity, people who have recently lost their jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic are lining up to receive a food parcel to survive. The line has reportedly grown in size everyday ever since the pandemic swept across the world a year ago. Some even decided to conceal their faces in masks or plastic bags, afraid their identity would be recognised.

Many leave with packages to feed all members of their family as they struggle to make ends meet. Last year has seen 720,000 fall below the poverty line in the north of Italy as throughout the whole country, the amount of people in poverty soared by a million. People include undeclared workers, youth and even women whose employment seemed to be worst hit by the outbreak.

#MaltaDaily