Those COVID numbers again It is reassuring to read that nine out of 10 new COVID cases are in unvaccinated people (July 6), although in no way does one not feel for anybody succumbing to the virus, irrespective of their circumstances. Hopefully, the vaccines will continue to protect as – inevitably – new variants will emerge so long as global protection continues to elude. Meanwhile, we welcome back the hordes of English language students (one assumes subsidised at €300 a pop, at taxpayers’ expense). No social distancing; no masks (young people are presumably unvaccinated, they are in groups far superior than the requisite two, etc.). Last Saturday, the ferry from Sliema to Valletta was thronged with them. Piled on top of each other, inside the boat (rather than outside) with no regard for distancing, ignoring the ‘do not sit here’ rows of seats. One also wonders how long the ‘bastions’ will hold out in the face of pressure from disgruntled Brits. I suspect that the commercial imperative will win out and – as so often happens in Malta – rules, if applied at all, tend to have the shelf life of yoghurt. And then people are aghast about grey lists! Incidentally, given the Brit wail...