2 comments so far.Bars to remain closed, another vaccination centre to open in Gozo
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Bars and clubs are to remain closed throughout March, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced on Wednesday, with a new Legal Notice coming into effect later today. He also said that restaurants will be able to stay open until midnight instead of 11pm.
Invitation letters will start being sent out to those aged between 75 and 80 for appointments as from the 8th of March, Dr Fearne said. Another vaccination centre will also open in Gozo, however no details were provided as to the location.
He added that that AstraZeneca vaccine will now also be administered to those aged up to 65, this had been restricted to up to age 55 previously.
He also advised that personal GPs can vaccinate people as from this week, those who wish to do so can apply through the Health Ministry.
As regards homes for the elderly, the Health Minister advised the restrictive measures will start to decrease once ten days have passed since the second vaccine dose, which will enable the perspex shields, currently being used on visits, to be removed.
Speaking about the increase in numbers of positive Covid-19 cases, the Health Minister warned of “an observed lack of discipline and called on the public to continue to apply the precautions of the Health Authorities.”
Another factor he said, was that now positive test results found from rapid tests are being added to the daily total, which follows ECDC guidelines. Previously they were only added after a second PCR test.
Dr Fearne explained the increase in cases of the English variant is also attributing to the increase in cases, it amounted to 8% of all the new positive cases found in Malta during the last 7 days. Gene sequencing is being carried out on 12 to 13% of positive cases. The EU, in fact recommends 5% of cases, he said.
He concluded by saying that details on how restrictive measures will eventually be eased will be provided in the coming days.
Photo by Alain Salvary
So the response to increasing numbers is to ease the restriction on restaurants and blame the public for not following the rules.
Why not a short lock down which worked before and actually enforcing the rules!
Still another 2 weeks before 75+ people get the vaccination??!! and no one knows when 65+ or 60+ age group will get it!! Meanwhile all sorts of occupational groups who have been lobbying the government and striking or threatening strikes are being vaccinated even if they are so young that they would probably be asymptomatic if they caught it! It seems that over 60s are considered expendable!!!