Malta
sees biggest protest yet against COVID measures
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[January 17, 2022]
VALLETTA (Reuters) - Malta saw its biggest
protest yet against COVID rules on Sunday, with hundreds of people
marching in the capital Valletta against new measures requiring
production of a COVID certificate for entry to most venues including
restaurants, gyms and bars.
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Malta has seen one of the biggest take-ups of COVID vaccination jabs
in the European Union, and almost three-quarters of adults would
have taken the additional booster jab by Sunday, according to Health
Ministry data.
But Health Minister Chris Fearne has defended the new rules, which
come into force on Monday, saying they are needed to defend against
the Omicron variant of the virus, now accounting for well over 90%
of new cases.
Sunday's protest was organised by a group of small political
parties, but the main Opposition Nationalist Party has also
criticised the new rules, saying they do not strike the right
balance between public health and people's freedoms especially when
there has been a high take-up of the vaccine.
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Since the start of the
pandemic, 502 people have died with COVID-19 in
Malta. The island has recorded a vaccination
rate of some 95%. Daily virus cases hit a record
of 1,337 on December 29 but they have since
dwindled to just 301 on Sunday, when two
patients also died. Many of
those at Sunday's protest shouted "freedom", and "no green pass".
They carried signs saying "Is it really about health?", "the vaccine
is poison" and "my body is not state-owned".
Most wore COVID face masks and police were seen approaching those
who didn't.
(Reporting by Christopher Scicluna; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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