Norway removes all COVID-19 measures… should Malta follow?

Sep 25 2021

The Norwegian Government had stated that the Nordic nation is set to remove all COVID-19 restrictions at 4pm today in an attempt to reopen society. Norway joins Denmark, Britain and a considerably-growing number of countries to completely remove domestic restrictions to return to what was once considered normality.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg addressed a conference stating that while everyday life is back to normal for most, the pandemic is not over and it is important for people to get vaccinated, going on to state that one must still go into isolation if they contract COVID-19.

In Norway, 76% of the population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 67% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.

With Malta leading the charge on global vaccination rollouts and COVID-19 boosters currently being administered, this begs the question whether Malta should follow these countries and drop all COVID-19 measures.

The imposed measures have not only limited social interaction but have affected the livelihoods of many businesses and while performing positively in containing the virus for a considerable amount of time, one cannot exclude the possibility of a step forward.

#MaltaDaily

Zebbug square to go completely car-free this evening in attempt to promote open spaces

Zebbug square to completely car-free this evening in attempt to promote open spaces

Sep 25 2021

The village square in Zebbug will reportedly go completely car-free this evening in order to attempt to promote open spaces in the village.

On Thursday, the Zebbug Local Council published a Facebook post revealing that Misraħ San Filep and Triq Sciortino will be turned into pedestrian zones and closed to all traffic between the hours of 5pm and 11pm. The council stated that this initiative is being taken to allow village families to enjoy the open spaces and went on to encourage residents to visit the square via bicycle or on foot.

The government had also announced similar activities in villages like Zejtun, Dingli, Qrendi, Zurrieq, Mqabba and Safi, with Zejtun set to be the first Maltese village to have temporarily pedestrianised squares.

#MaltaDaily

OPINION POST: Free the Kids.

Sep 24 2021

Tomorrow, Friday 24, people are set to gather in Valletta to protest the current COVID-19 rule urging children to wear masks at school. The protest titled ‘Unmask school children’ will be a peaceful demonstration where attendees will walk silently and hold up placards “high for all to see”. The organiser of the event held that the event “is being organised strictly to safeguard our children who are unable to defend themselves against this tyranny”.

Realistically speaking, if someone deserves to get back to normality, it’s the children. While we have been seeing events of every shape or form all across Malta, children must go back to school in Malta’s less-than-pleasant temperature conditions wearing masks and it is the parents who must bear witness to their exhausted children after a hot day wearing a mask.

A few days ago, a petition was started calling for primary schoolchildren to be allowed to take off masks while seated, gaining over 1,500 signatures in one week. The parent who started the petition, Evicka Grech stated that masks do not only prevent children from communicating and understanding each other properly but presents a number of difficulties when teaching and learning phonics.

Studies also found that masks impair recognition of emotions, positive social interactions and ability of understanding and empathy. These concerning results beg the question, is it time to free the kids?

#MaltaDaily

Costly Balluta stairs design scrapped after public outrage

Sep 24 2021

After being shared publicly and subsequently receiving a wave of criticism with calls of overspending, the previous designs for the Balluta staircase have been scrapped. On Thursday, the St. Julian’s local council met and agree to issue a new tender for the stairs.

The €450,000 project received a barrage of negative comments for its outrageous costs, with viewing areas alone costing €117,500, a water cascade costing €104,000 and the re-construction of existing stairs costing a whopping €79,700.

The costly, now-scrapped design which created public outrage.

Amongst other changes, one of the most notable is that the costly water cascade is to be replaced with indigenous trees, while the €117,500 glass railings are to be replaced with iron railings. Mayor Albert Buttigieg also told Times of Malta that the water culvert will be placed at the top to collect rain water while some of the steps will be placed with classic Maltese tiles.

Buttigieg stated that while it is impossible to please everyone, he believes that the people will be happy with the new changes and as a council, they will not accept leaving the stars as they are.

Proposed new designs.

Do you prefer the new plans or the old ones?

#MaltaDaily