UK to no longer require vaccine passports as of January 27th

Jan 19 2022

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a return to the COVID Plan A measures after Plan B were implemented in December.

This news comes after a cabinet review of the latest COVID data, with a government official spokesperson explaining the decisions about changes to restrictions as being finely balanced.

Current rules under the Plan B include compulsory face coverings for most indoor public spaces, advice to work from home, and the use of COVID vaccine passes for several establishments.

Today 19th January 2022, Johnson cited ONS data indicating COVID cases are falling and announced that the Uk will be returning to Plan A from January 27th. He concluded that the government will no longer require wearing of face masks or vaccine passports.

As of tomorrow, Johnson also revealed that the government will no longer require face masks in school classrooms. The use of face coverings is still recommended in public spaces.

Plan B aimed to help reduce the spread of Omicron as well as allow time to administer more booster jabs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday he was ‘cautiously optimistic that we will be able to sustainably reduce restrictions next week.’

Ahead of the announcement, the spokesperson said that it is thanks to the ‘phenomenal efforts of the NHS and many dedicated volunteers that we have no delivered over 36 million boosters to people across the UK.’

Latest figures from January 18 reveal that a total of 673,987 people tested positive for COVID between January 12 and 18, which is a 38.9% reduction from the week prior.

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Joseph Muscat’s home searched by police as part of Vitals corruption probe

Jan 19 2022

Joseph Muscat’s home in Burmarrad was searched today, 19th January 2022, was searched by police as part of a corruption probe into the Vitals Global Healthcare hospitals deal.

Financial crime investigators entered the house at around 7am and spent at least 3 hours on the premises, seizing the former prime minister’s mobile phone, along with those of his wife and two daughters.

Rumours about the search were circulating in political circles for several days, with Muscat himself also apparently having been aware that investigators would enter his home. He said he was only half surprised about the search and the ‘needless theatrics’ were possibly designed to ‘humiliate’ him.

Newsroom Times of Malta revealed back in November how Muscat received €60,000 from Accutor AG, a company which received millions from Steward Healthcare when it took over a contract to run three state hospitals from VGH.

It is also understood that the police search was part of a bid by investigators to establish whether payments into the former prime minister’s BOV account from Accutor AG could be linked to corruption in the hospital deal.

Muscat also handed investigators a file full of documents which he prepared ahead of the search, justifying the work he says was done in exchange for the Accutor AG payments. The search was carried out under the ambit of a magisterial inquiry triggered by NGO Repubblika in 2019.

Muscat told Times of Malta that he was half surprised by the search, saying he was tipped off by someone within the Nationalist Party that Jason Azzopardi was telling people about a planned search. Muscat flagged this to the inquiring magistrate yesterday and made it clear he was available to cooperate.

He said that the process could have occurred without ‘theatrics’ and said the seizure of his children’s mobile phones was ‘excessive.’ He also insinuated that the search was planned out by someone who wanted to pass on a message, but did not elaborate further when questioned.

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Photo Source: Matthew Mirabelli (Times of Malta), Joseph Muscat FB

Tripadvisor reveals the most popular world destination for 2022

Jan 19 2022

Tripadvisor has revealed that a 20th century fishing village which became a 21st century global hot spot for high-end travel is the most popular destination for 2022.

Releasing its ‘Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2022: The Best of the Best Destinations’, United Arab Emirates’ Dubai has ranked at the top of the list, followed by London, UK and Cancun, Mexico.

Tripadvisor stated that Dubai has been slowly rising in the ranks of it’s Traveler’s Choice Awards over the past few years, ‘and now in 2022 takes the crown of the number one most popular destination in the world.’

Director of media, destinations and travel at Tripadvisor Justin Reid said that despite the effects of the pandemic, Dubai ‘still attracted visitors from near and far over the past year, and has stood out as their favourite place to go in a year when they really need some excitement.’

Rules for entry can be a bit complicated due to COVID, with UAE having opened its applications for tourist visas to vaccinated travellers from all countries apart from a dozen African nations. A negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival must be presented.

The top 10 trending destinations list on the other hand is topped by Spain’s Mallorca, followed by Cairo, Egypt and Rhodes, Greece.

Tripadvisor also has other specific lists – one for food lovers, which Rome tops; for outdoor enthusiasts, won by Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park; and even one for sun seekers, which Cancun tops.

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Protest by nurse union after hospital technicians have yearly bonus denied

Jan 19 2022

After Mater Dei Hospital technicians were denied their annual allowance which was stipulated in their sectorial agreement, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) protested outside the Health Ministry in Valletta.

Speaking in front of the health ministry, union members said that around 24 workers who fix medical equipment are owed €2,500 annually. The Union’s president Paul pace said that for reasons unknown, the government refused to meet with union representatives to discuss the matter in any capacity.

The union also alleged that the union directives that have been in place since December have been ignored. Pace said instead of finding a resolution, the health minister instead decided to hire an outside contractor to carry out duties affected by directives.

According to an agreement signed in 2017, the workers are responsible for special medical equipment and are entitled to this allowance. The MUMN said that this has not been paid since 2019, whilst colleagues in the same division received it. Pace is urging the government to come forward and open dialogue on the issue.

#MaltaDaily