School reopening plans to be presented in coming days

Aug 25 2021

Education Minister Justyne Caruana told newsroom the Malta Independent that Malta’s plan for reopening of schools is set to be finalised and presented in the coming days. An activity is in the works which will give the full programme and details for said reopening, as many are asking how educational institutions will be handling this upcoming scholastic year. The Minister stated that the plan needs to be evaluated by the health superintendence and only then will it be made public so everyone is fully aware and to start preparations.

Schools were first shut in March 2020 when the first cases of COVID-19 were detecting. Primary and secondary schools physically reopened throughout the scholastic years, with post-secondary opting to keep the online lecture system going. Health minister Chris Fearne said that the exit strategy was being based on getting every student back into classrooms. In terms of vaccination, Caruana stated this is not mandatory, unlike other countries.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: The Conversation, Justyne Caruana FB

42 COVID-19 cases registered with 36 recoveries

42 COVID-19 cases registered with 59 recoveries

Aug 25 2021

Malta has registered 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 3,247 swab tests, while 36 patients have recovered. No deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Tuesday 24th August 2021, 793,015 vaccine doses were administered of which 411,748 were 1st doses. 410,532 people are currently fully vaccinated.

To date, Malta has registered 35,908 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 34,388 have recovered, 437 died and 687 are still active.

Mater Dei Hospital is currently treating a total of 36 COVID-19 positive patients, 3 of whom are in the ITU.

#MaltaDaily

More police have retired than been recruited in 10 years

Aug 25 2021

More police officers have retired from the force than joined over the past decade, with the tattoo policy, low starting salary and lack of incentives being the highest factors impacting this phenomenon. Between 2010 and June of 2021, around 1,205 officers retired from duty, according to data provided to Times of Malta. On the other hand, 998 recruits were appointed between 2010 and 2020, with 65 more added in 2021.

A spokesperson told Times of Malta that another 41 candidates are undergoing induction training within the Academy for Disciplined Forces. The MPF also removed height restrictions as of November 2020, along with increasing the age limit to 39 from 30. The tattoo issue seems to be the biggest hinderance for new recruits as, despite not being outright banned, they must be fully covered up by the uniform. The lack of recruits, according to General secretary of the Malta Police Association Marlon Hili, is not exclusive to Malta, as other countries are experiencing a similar phenomenon.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Malta Police Force FB

Buckingham Palace staff shocked after finding out who the Queen supports

Aug 25 2021

The Queen has long kept her mouth shut when it comes to which football club she supports in order to stay neutral. Many football fans have wondered over which football team she supports, but their answers might have been answered as the Queen has reportedly slipped out her favourite team.

According to The Daily Mirror, the British Head of State, upon hearing that one of her staff was a Millwall fan, told her staff that she was a West Ham fan. This came as a shock to not only her staff but to nearly any football fan in the country as West Ham are a club notoriously associated with hooligans.

It is reported that the Queen also has a fondness for fellow London side Arsenal. Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas told news that whilst meeting her royal highness, she told the team that she has always had a soft spot for Arsenal. It is said that the Queen started supporting West Ham back in the 60’s when they won an FA Cup, European Cup winners Cup and had the bulk of their squad in England’s team that won the World Cup in 1966.

#MaltaDaily