WHO approves China’s Sinovac vaccine for emergency use

Jun 2 2021

China’s very own Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. The vaccine allegedly prevented symptomatic disease in 51% in vaccinated individuals, as well as severe symptoms along with hospitalisation in 100% of samples. This is the second Chinese vaccine to get the WHO green light as it follows in Sinopharm’s footsteps.

The vaccine has been approved for over 18s in several countries, with the second dose being administered two to four weeks later. Getting an emergency approval means a vaccine has met international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing. A whopping 95% decrease in deaths in a Brazilian city was noted following citizens receiving a Sinovac jab. The introduction of this new vaccine will hopefully see the Covax programme, which aims to ensure vaccine fair access, get a boost as it struggles with supply problems.

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Photo Source: DW

Summer 2021 hotter than average with thunderstorms

Jun 2 2021

Malta Weather reported that summer 2021 will be hotter than overage across both Malta and Gozo. Both sea and land temperatures have heated up quickly as the season makes its way to the island. Luckily, no heat waves have as of yet been reported, making beach-going and sun-bathing more bearable.

There is a rather peculiar weather guest however, as thunderstorms are predicted for the early days of summer. Above average rainfall is set to accompany the weather, making these summer days quite a mixed bag indeed. So better pack an umbrella and raincoat alongside your suncream and towels!

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Photo Source: Tasteaway

Minister Miriam Dalli driving towards sustainability with her electric car

Jun 2 2021

Energy and Sustainable Development Minister Miriam Dalli has gone electric with her transportation, as she revealed when answering parliamentary questions. Dalli is renowned for pushing the legislation to gradually make polluting cars across the EU a thing of the past. She answered Nationalist MP Ryan Callus by stating that her ministerial car is a Mercedes Benz leased for €40 per day.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana revealed he does not have a ministerial car, being known to drive himself to work and other important activities. Prime Minister Robert Abela stated his official vehicle is a plug-in hybrid (BMW 530E iPerformance) which he leased for €13,200 annually.

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Photo Source: Sunday Times Driving, Miriam Dalli FB

Last 3 days to digitally download the COVID-19 vouchers

Jun 2 2021

Around 81,103 people in Malta and Gozo have downloaded the €100 government vouchers from the governmental website. The issuing of the vouchers was announced by the Minister of the Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri as an investment to regenerate the Maltese economy following the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Elderly people who live in private or public social care homes will be receiving the €100 directly as a contribution by the end of June.

The minister remarked how in the first few hours since the launch, more than 750 e-ID registrations per minute were being registered. 93% of those who downloaded the vouchers so far are Maltese citizens, with 7% being Gozitan. Digitally downloaded vouchers cannot, for security reasons, be printed or sent via screenshot as the valid QR code expires a few minutes after they are opened.

72% of the 81,103 people who downloaded the vouchers used e-ID documents, with 28% through personal identification. The minister emphasised the importance of the digital economy, as this would ease future projects in which the government would need the digital sector. Those who would not have downloaded the voucher digitally will be receiving printed copies by 7th June.

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