Giving out plastic shopping bags will result in fines

Jan 11 2022

As of this year, it is no longer permitted for a shop to offer customers a plastic bag for shopping. The only exceptions are re-usable or biodegradable bags, with the same applying for single-use plastic bags or styrofoam (jablo) containers.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) as well as Customs will be carrying out the enforcement required in order to ensure that no more single use plastic enters Malta. Fines will in the mean time be imposed on anyone who breaks this law.

As of the 1st of January of last year, the local manufacturing and importation of plastic bags was halted. The placement of certain single use product on the market such as cutlery and straws was also stopped. As of 2022, other measures will be coming into effect which aim to reduce single use plastic products.

The use of single use plastics which were already in the country was allowed up until December. The 24th of February will see their distribution, consumption as well as sale disallowed.

ERA’s Marie Claire Cappello said that Customs will be carried out by Customs to ensure that more more single use plastic products enter the country. Bags which are less than 50 microns thick can no longer be used for commerce, whether or not they are free or against payment. Light plastic bags which are less than 15 microns thick can still be used for hygienic purposes.

Thin plastic bags can therefore be used to package food. However, they cannot be used to place non-food products. Reusable plastic bags which are biodegradable compostable can be used.

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Dingli school yard becomes winter wonderland after hail storm

Jan 11 2022

It’s not a common phenomenon for Malta but yesterday, Dingli Secondary School – St. Nicholas College uploaded some images of their school yard covered in white hail.

The school described it as a winter wonderland which followed a sudden hailstorm yesterday morning. With the hail blending in with white walls, the photos do actually resemble something similar to what other countries accustomed to snow experience quite normally.

But for Malta, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean and notorious for its heat waves, such phenomena are one off delight.

The post was met with surprised reactions and delight by many, especially the school staff who shared the photos and exclaimed their surprise at the unusual sight.

If you’re wondering about the upcoming weather, 7 day forecasts predict isolated showers and cloudy skies for the rest of the week. No more hail storms are expected but rain fall seems more likely towards the weekend.

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Malta with the highest booster shot rollout and lowest hospitalisations in EU

Jan 11 2022

Malta registered the fastest COVID-19 booster rollout among the European Union members on Monday 10th January 2022.

According to the latest figures posted on Saħħa’s Facebook page, Malta also ranked just above the UK, Ireland and Israel in terms of vaccine boosters administered per 100 people.

Among the lowest are Latvia (at the bottom), followed by Slovakia and Poland.

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne took to social media to announce Malta’s highest booster and lowest hospitalisation rates in all of Europe.

He quoted the data to highlight how the booster works and encouraged everyone to take their jab when it’s their turn.

As of yesterday, 1,133,334 doses of the vaccine were administered, 278,153 of which were all boosters. This also comes amidst a significant spike in cases, with active cases ranking at 14,053.

However, Malta only has 7 people out of 131 hospitalised people in Intensive Care Units. Malta also registered 542 recoveries yesterday 10th January 2022, with one death bringing up the total to 489.

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Malta Chamber of SMEs calls for end of quarantine for contacts & 5 days for positive cases

Jan 10 2022

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has called for the end of required quarantine for vaccinated individuals who come into contact with positive cases. They have also proposed a reduced quarantine of 5 days for people who test positive.

Symptomatic people would be required to remain at home until they are free of symptoms and a minimum of 24 hours after they last register a fever. These same individuals would not need to be tested for COVID-19 before exiting quarantine. These proposals come as a result of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations and while stating that the Chamber has “no intention of doing the health authorities’ job,” they have remarked that such rules have disrupted business to a point of detriment.

The Chamber also highlighted that the WHO warned the public not let their guard down since the Omicron variant is spreading dangerously fast, appealing to the authorities to remain adamant on regulation and quarantine enforcement.

What do you make of this?

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