Europe erupts in flames amid intense heatwaves

Aug 7 2021

This summer’s heatwaves are not just impacting people’s mental and physical health, but they are having a huge toll on the Earth’s overall environment. With record-setting heatwaves in Southern Europe, wildfires have raged and devastated forests, homes and vital infrastructure spanning from Turkey to Spain. Smoke pollution covered much of Greece as people were advised to stay indoors to avoid any toxic fumes. Elsewhere in Turkey, winds fanned flames around 100 blazes which broke out all across the country.

Hundreds had to evacuate by sea as the fires made their way to their homes, with many finding refuge in the tourist hotspot of Bodrum. Climate change is the main cause of these flames, but this should not sway our blame away from humanity as a whole. Experts warn of the heat only intensifying in the coming years, with the summer giving us only a taste of what is in store should these issues not be directly dealt with as soon as possible.

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Photo Source: CNN

Italian teachers need proof of vaccination before entering schools

Aug 7 2021

The Italian government has ruled that teachers must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 before entering a classroom. Green-passes have also been made mandatory for travellers on trains, planes, ships and even inter-city coaches. Teachers in Italy will not be able to attend work without a certificate, while those who absent themselves for five days will allegedly not receive payment.

As the country registers 4.38 million cases and 128K deaths, Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza stated that ‘the choice of the government is to invest as much as possible in the Green Pass to avoid closures and to safeguard freedom.’ Italy seems to be following in France’s footsteps as President Emmanuel Macron’s decisions triggered larger protests in France’s streets than those seen in Italy. France’s top court ruled that the health pass did not contravene the constitution.

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Photo Source: Max Fischer, Luma Health

71 COVID-19 cases registered with 147 recoveries

54 COVID-19 cases registered with 57 recoveries

Aug 7 2021

Malta has registered 71 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 3,593 swab tests, while 147 patients have recovered. No deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Friday 6th August 2021, 773,225 vaccine doses were administered of which 404,049 were 1st doses. 394,589 people are currently fully vaccinated.

To date, Malta has registered 34,787 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 32,909 have recovered, 424 died and 1,058 are still active.

Mater Dei Hospital is currently treating a total of 33 COVID-19 positive patients, five of whom are in the ITU. The average age of yesterday’s cases was 45.

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86% herd immunity and still no legal standing events allowed

Aug 7 2021

Despite Malta having achieved 86% herd immunity, standing events still remain illegal as the Deputy Prime Minister deemed them high-risk. Following a press conference by Health Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci, several measures were relaxed in order to mitigate infections and yet return to normalcy. Standing events still remained off limits however, as events organisers were left sorely disappointed by what seemed to be the turning of the tides.

The measures which were in fact implemented detailed how as of the 16th of August, the capacity for outdoor events would increase to 300 albeit still sitting. Capacity would then increase to 500, but standing will still not be allowed. The entertainment industry exclaimed disappointment at these measures, stating that herd immunity and fully vaccinated partygoers should not pose a threat to society. The health ministry still vouched for gradual easing but the new measures only leave the entertainment industry as one of the sectors most negatively impacted by the restrictions.

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Photo Source: anna-m.w, Chris Fearne FB