Specialist says COVID-19 mortality rate just as bad as flu season

Jun 4 2021

Family doctor and occupational health specialist Jean Karl Soler took to Facebook to express his concerns about the COVID-19 mortality rate. Soler states how he has been told by a local public health specialist that statistics should be ignored and was instead directed to ‘inform [himself] better on Public Health principles.’ He goes on to state that looking at statistical analysis is crucial for studying public health and goes on to state that, according to him, ‘COVID-19 in Malta has been just as bad as a flu season.’

Soler emphasises how he has highlighted mask-wearing in summer to control seasonal viruses and mass vaccinations to reduce mortality rate of a disease with a median mortality of 80 years of age. He asks the important questions; ‘if all the over-80s are vaccinated, why are we stilll taking precautions in summer for a seasonal virus?’ And ‘why [do] we vaccinate against influenza in October, but will wear masks and vaccinate children against COVID-19 all year round, when BOTH are seasonal virii?’

Soler concludes by heavily highlighting that the infection rate in those under 70 is 5 per 10,000. This, according to him, is something we should not forget.

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Photo Source: Jean Karl Soler

Clayton Bartolo speaks out on Malta not making it on UK’s green list

Jun 4 2021

Following the news that Malta did not make it onto the UK’s green list once again, Tourism and Consumer Protection Minister Clayton Bartolo spoke out about how this will play into Malta’s plans to boost its tourism economy. He stated that the news was a big disappointment for the sector, especially when one considers that Malta is the only country in Europe to have reached herd immunity, is far ahead in its vaccination rollout and has the lowest infection rates in the EU.

The Minister however also acknowledged that this decision was not caused by Malta itself as the country did, and is still doing, everything to better its own pandemic situation. The UK has removed more countries from the green list following an increase of cases in the past few days. Despite not making it onto the UK’s green list, Malta did experience a demand in flights from other countries such as France and Germany.

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Photo Source: Clayton Bartolo FB

New remote working policy to be introduced in coming weeks

Jun 4 2021

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar stated that the government will be introducing a new policy related to remote working in the upcoming weeks. Cutajar commended public officers’ work on keeping Malta going during such troubling times, and went on to state that the requirements of Public Service and employees need to be met in balance. Remote working will be a crucial tool in this change, with departments being able to work away from the office.

Cutajar acknowledged that this will require a lot of training and a bigger investment in technology. With people being placed at the centre of strengthening Public Service, he went on to say that the five year strategy put in place will see to delivering a level of excellence and opportunity for employees to contribute at every level.

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Photo Source: publicservice.gov.mt, Ekaterina

First Indian COVID-19 variant case found in Malta

Jun 4 2021

Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci confirmed today during a COVID-19 briefing that Malta has found its first case of the Indian variant. The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617, was found in the latest batch of cases, with the variant being isolated during the genomic sequencing. The situation is currently under investigation as the majority of cases in Malta are UK variants (B.1.1.7) or variants of no concern.

Alongside the 30 cases of Brazilian variant and 6 cases of the South African variant, Malta currently has 74 active cases and a total of 30,559 cases registered ever since the pandemic began. Tourism in Malta has also opened on 1st June as the islands prepare for a summer to boost the economy.

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Photo Source: Charmaine Gauci FB, CDC