No Omicron in Malta yet says Health Minister as boosters extended to over-35s

Dec 16 2021

During a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne revealed that no Omicron cases have been found in Malta yet.

However, he insisted that it is only a matter of time until the newly discovered COVID-19 variant is discovered in Malta. Within two weeks, he predicted, it will be the dominant variant across all of Europe.

This comes after the World Health Organisation pointed out that the variant is spreading faster than any other COVID variant. It has so far been detected in 77 countries, but is probably in many more simply undetected.

Apart from this, Fearne announced that anyone over 35 will be able to register for the booster jab as of Monday. New advice from the EMA indicates that those who received the J&J could receive the second dose after two months.

Anyone over 35 who received the J&J vaccine will thus receive a government invitation to take the second jab.

The minister also highlighted how the hospital numbers were low thanks to the vaccination rollout. However, he warned that there was always a lag between what happens at hospital and in the community.

Referee Ryan Caruana praised for quickly helping player with concussion

Dec 16 2021

TV programme Replay’s Facebook page hailed young referee Ryan Caruana for his immediate action to help a player who suffered a concussion on the football pitch.

His first aid avoided there being further consequences, resulting in the player, who forms part of Pieta Hotspurs FC, suffering worse injuries.

This follows an incident between the player and another from the opposing Hamrun Spartans Football Club during a minors match. Caruana halted the game upon finding out what happened and was the first to give the first assistance to the young player.

The incident happened last Tuesday, with the match played in Victor Tedesco Stadium. On site medics continued to help the player, but Caruana’s actions possibly saved his life.

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Photo Source: Replay FB

Police fired around 50 shots when Aidan Bartolo drove at them

Dec 16 2021

After police officers two weeks ago engaged in Aidan Bartolo’s arrest in Mizieb, they revealed in court that they fired around 50 gunshots at the fugitive’s tyres between them.

Bartolo was being investigated on suspicion of drug trafficking and was stopped by six officers when he was in his car in Mellieha. Instead of following orders, the 24-year-old allegedly drove towards the police officers.

One of the officers stated that he fired around 17 shots, with another revealing he fired 13 shots. The other officers were in doubt as to the number of shots fired, but calculations brought the number up to 50 in total.

Bartolo himself was hit in the leg by a shot and is being charged with the attempted murder of the officers. Defence counsel asked whether it had been necessary to fire so many shots.

The accused is also insisting he simply wanted to escape but did not want to hurt the officers. The officers form part of the Special Intervention Unit, saying that their faces were covered but they had the word ‘police’ on their chest.

Police added they were not aware of his intentions, with Bartolo hitting two cars and a van. Bartolo was released on bail at the last sitting against a €5,000 deposit and a €40,000 personal guarantee.

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Photo Source: TVM, Malta Police Force

The Omicron variant is spreading faster than any COVID variant

Dec 16 2021

The World Health Organisation has raised concerns about the Omicron COVID-19 variant which is spreading at a rate unseen with previous mutations.

WHO Director-General Tedros-Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that dismissing the variant as mild is concerning enough, but the symptoms are also just as alarming.

Addressing a press conference, Tedros said that the variant has been detected in 77 countries so far, but it is probably in most even if it hasn’t been detected yet.

British officials have revealed that the country is currently experiencing a tidal wave of infections from the newly discovered variant. It has so far outcompeted the Delta variant in London.

The UK reported its first death from the variant on Monday, with 78,610 cases of COVID reported on Wednesday. This is the highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began.

Omicron also went from accounting for 0.4% of circulating virus in the US in the week of December 4 to 2.9% the following week. While data from South Africa suggests Omicron might be causing milder symptoms than previous variants, experts stress its too early to make firm conclusions.

‘We’re concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild. Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril’ said Tedros.

Local doctor Frank Portelli highlighted the symptoms of Omicron, pointing towards massive fatigue, muscle pain, head aches, sweating throughout the night and a runny nose.

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Photo Source: Frank Portelli FB