'Safety first' is paying dividends
Over the last few weeks, the outlook for COVID in Malta has transformed from looking into the abyss, with a peak of 500 positive cases in one day, to a much brighter picture, with daily average cases averaging just over 20. This is reflected by the situation in hospital, with far fewer beds occupied by COVID patients. The situation has improved dramatically thanks to a combination of factors: the new restrictions imposed a couple of months ago, better enforcement of them, the adoption that we are seeing now of a far more logical and gradual relaxation of measures than in the past and, of course, the very efficient vaccination programme. Malta is currently the most vaccinated nation or territory in Europe, with the exception of Gibraltar. The education campaign managed by the Department of Health has resulted in a huge turnout for the jab, witnessed by the queues that accumulated at the University of Malta vaccination centre. The island looks set to become one of the very few countries to be given a green light by the UK authorities for travel and tourism. It is well to note, however, that there are still far more active cases – now standing in the high 200s – than when Malta...