Malta leads the race of fully vaccinated rate in Europe with 800,000 doses

Sep 7 2021

Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne revealed on Tuesday that 800,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Malta has, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the highest fully vaccinated rate in Europe at 91%. Ireland follows suit with 88.2%, with Iceland just behind at 86.2%.

Il-bieraħ qbiżna t-800,000 doża tal-#vaċċin tal-Covid-19 #besafe #booster pic.twitter.com/7G2TcMBgr4

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) September 7, 2021

In terms of first doses, Malta ranks fifth at 90.6%, just behind Iceland at 91.2%. Portugal leads the first dose charge at 95.6%, followed by France at 91.9% and Ireland at 91.5%. This news follows the start of booster shot rollouts in elderly care homes, with this programme expected to administer 500 doses on a daily basis. The elderly community aged over 70 will receive their third jab (Pfizer or Moderna, irrespective of whether these were the first two doses) starting the first week of October.

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Photo Source: Chris Fearne Twitter

Education Minister announces new health protocols for 2021/22 scholastic year

Sep 7 2021

Addressing a press conference, Minister for Education Justyne Caruana announced the new health protocols going into the new 2021/2022 scholastic year. Classes for children from year 8 and down can return to school whilst adhering to 1 meter-and-a-half distance due to this group not being able to receive the jab. Classes of children from year 9 and up will also return to school, with social distance reduced to just 1 metre due to the rollout of jabs being successful.

Practical classes, field work and physical education will also return alongside the celebration of student birthdays, given that health measures are adhered to. This will occur through the concept of bubbles. Tuck shops can re-open, given they serve only pre-packaged products. For the initial period of reopening, parents/guardians cannot enter the school but this may change given further updates by authorities. Assemblies can also occur given they adhere to regulations with the minister revealing that talks are in place about graduation ceremonies. All protocols and exact details are to be published on governmental and health websites and social media platforms.

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Photo Source: Justyne Caruana FB

Former PSG and France player dies following 39-year coma

Sep 7 2021

Former France and PSG defender Jean Pierre Adams has died at the age of 73 following a 39-year coma. Adams boasted 22 caps for France, becoming one of the first Black players to play for Les Bleus. Jean also played for Nimes, Nice and PSG. All three clubs have released statements regarding the death of their former star.

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A post shared by OGC Nice (@ogcnice)

Jean Pierre Adams fell into a coma after a botched knee operation in 1982. In France at the time many doctors and medical personnel were on strike, so the only people available at Jean Pierre’s operation were a trainee and an anaesthetist. His wife Bernadette in 2016 told CNN “The female anaesthetist was looking after eight patients, one after the other, like an assembly line,”. The anaesthetist and trainee made numerous mistakes under pressure on the day. Mistakes that eventually led to Jean Pierre’s vegetative state and eventual passing.

Adams was intubated incorrectly, with one tube blocking the passageway to his lungs instead of ventilating it. The former player suffered a cardiac arrest because of the lack of oxygen, which led to him falling into a coma. In 2016 his wife Bernadette told BBC that the hospital hasn’t yet apologised. Bernadette was given many plaudits on social media after taking care of her husband for nearly four decades.

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‘Go Green Week’ set to raise environmental awareness in Malta

Sep 7 2021

‘Go Green Week’ is an programme designed to encourage awareness about initiatives which seek to better the environment throughout our daily lives. The initiative was announced by the Minister for the Environment Aaron Farrugia and Eden Leisure Group, setting up a week of environmentally conscious learning between the 15th and 21st of September.

Beach clean-ups, environment-related films and even a book recycling drive will make up some of the activities set to occur during this week. Director of Operations at Eden Leisure Group Kate De Cesare welcomed the Minister to announce the exciting week ahead. With Eden cinemas dedicating 1 screen for the full week and showing environmental films free of charge, a €1 donation will go towards a green fund. Eden Leisure Group stated that ‘every small action we take can contribute to a bigger change for the better.’

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