Italy to set date for dropping of mandatory mask wearing rule

Jun 22 2021

As Italy experiences less infection rates per day, the health authorities of the country are to review the current mask requirements on Monday. Italy has made wearing masks a requirement both indoors and outdoors since October 2020. As the summer heat rolls in however, the mitigation of the health measures will relieve many people as Monday afternoon will see a meeting of the Italian government’s panel of scientific experts. The Scientific Technical Committee (CTS) is holding the meeting to discuss potential changes.

At the moment, the Italian rules require people to wear masks at all times when out of the house, indoors and outdoors. This is exempted when ‘due to the characteristics of the place or circumstances, isolation is continuously guaranteed.’ July 5th is being considered as the possible date for dropping the measure, with experts even considering a date a week earlier. On June 28th, Italy will be under ‘white zone’ rules, meaning that most health measures can be lifted.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Anna Shvets

Dubai’s man-made islands Palm Jumeirah turn 20

Jun 22 2021

The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial set of islands off the coast of the Dubai mainland. Home to nearly 80,000 people as well as luxury hotels and pristine beaches, the construction of the archipelago began in June 2001. Civil engineer Ali Mansour recounts how after moving from Canada to Dubai in 1998, he decided to join the company behind the work on the project after seeing first satellite pictures published in 2002.

Mansour stated that it was a first and unprecedented project of such a scale. Now advisor and director of projects for Nakheel Marine Engineering who developed the Palm Jumeirah. Around 120 million cubic metres of sand had to be dredged and brought over from the bottom of the Persian Gulf, with more than 7 million tons of rocks mined from the UAE’s northern Hajar mountains.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Shutterstock

Philippine President threatens to jail those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine

Jun 22 2021

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to jail those who have refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Philippine is currently battling one of Asia’s worst outbreaks as it racks up more than 1.3 million cases and 230,000 deaths. On a televised address on Monday, Duterte stated: ‘You choose, vaccine or I will have you jailed.’

This follows after several vaccination sites in the capital, Manila, had low turnouts of people wanting to get jabbed. This statement was contrary to what the health officials remarked, that getting vaccinated was voluntary. As of June 20, Philippine authorities have fully vaccinated 2.1 million people. This barely touches the target to immunise up to 70 million people in a country of 110 million in 2021.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: The Guardian, European Parliament

Italian PM wants Euro 2020 final moved to Rome following UK COVID surge

Jun 22 2021

Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi has stated that the Euro 2020 final should be moved to Rome from London as the UK experiences a massive surge in COVID-19 infections. Draghi stated during a press conference in Berlin that he will try to stop the final being held in a ‘country where infections are rising quickly.’ The UK has recorded 10,633 new COVID-19 cases on 21st June 2021, along with 5 new deaths. In contrast, Italy has recorded 495 new cases in the last 24 hours.

The president of Italy’s football federation Gabriele Gravina however denied they were seeking to move the match from Wembley to Rome. Munich is also up on offer to have the match moved there alternatively. Bavarian state premier Markus Soder said that the city was on standby and would be happy to host another match.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: UEFA.com