EU releases vaccine pass plan for travel

Mar 17 2021

The EU has released its plan for the implementation of ‘Digital Green Certificate’ travel pass, facilitating travel around Europe. Released on Wednesday, the new scheme is the EU’s tool by which it hopes to allow vaccinated individuals to travel again. This means travellers can also skip pandemic-related travel restrictions, including testing and self-isolation. The certificate will contain three key elements: vaccination certificates stating the brand of vaccine used, test certificates and medical certificates for people who had and recovered from COVID-19 in the last 180 days.

The plan also explains that those who are not vaccinated must be ‘able to continue to exercise their fundamental right of free movement, where necessary subject to limitations such as mandatory testing and quarantine/self-isolation.’ Any personal data required by the plan is also only allowed to the relevant authorities, ensuring data protection.

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New COVID-19 sport guidelines now allow individual activities under strict measures

Mar 17 2021

Public Health authorities have released new guidelines for sport activities as practiced by individuals. All activities that are not organised events can occur as long as mitigation measures are adhered to. According to the new guidelines, Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci gives permission for sport and physical activities that are not organised events to occur, as well as maintaining the strict four people measure.

Physical contact is also prohibited, as well as enforcing the mask wearing measure except for high intensity physical activity and ban any form of competition. Following is a list of activities that have been permitted.

Permitted sports:

Walking and Power Walking
Jogging, running and athletic activity
Fitness and dance sessions (with 2m social distancing)
Cycling
Climbing
Horse riding
Golf
Tennis/Padel
Shooting
Swimming
Sailing on individual dinghies
Archery
Fishing
Gymnastics
Motor Sport
Model aircrafts
Scuba diving
Skateboarding
Surfing
Weightlifting

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Roberta Metsola to lead EPP for COVID-19 variant vaccine approval

Mar 17 2021

Vice President for the European Parliament Roberta Metsola will be leading discussions looking to alter EU’s approval process for vaccines to tackle new COVID-19 variants. Metsola claimed it is not impossible to maintain the highest possible safety and security standards ‘while ensuring the process is streamlined for maximum efficiency.’ Metsola will be representing the European People’s party Group.

Metsola pointed out that with approved vaccines that have already undergone intense checking in terms of even the variants, ‘we can and we should be able to move faster and help countries tackle the so-called third wave’. Metsola also highlighted that with the variants’ emergence, it is essential that the process is done correctly and to ensure people’s confidence in vaccines by not compromising on the ‘existing high public safety standards.’

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People meeting in households reduced to a maximum of two households

Mar 17 2021

Superintendent for For Public Health Professor Charmaine Gauci has just announced that the limit of people meeting under one roof has been decreased from four to two households.

This measure was amended in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Malta.

It is reported that further details are to be announced later today.

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