EU proposing to extend COVID certificates for travel till July 2023

Feb 4 2022

The European Commission has proposed this Thursday to extend by an entire year the usage of COVID certificates for travel across the 27-nation bloc. This means that the certificates will be extended until the end of June 2023, and comes despite an announcement by the director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe office that it is entering a ‘plausible endgame to the pandemic.’

The EU however said that the virus is still very prevalent on the continent and that at this stage it is not possible to determine the impact of a possible increase in infections or variant emergence in 2022’s second half.Commissioner for justice Didier Reynders said that a failure to extend the scheme could lead to confusion and obstacles if it expires while the pandemic is not over. To come into effect, EU members and EU parliament must all accept the proposal.

So far, EU countries have issued over 1.2 billion certificates after they entered into force in July of last year. They were largely successful in helping EU citizens travel without quarantines and other restrictions due to COVID. Under current rules, EU countries must accept vaccination certificates for a period of nine months following the latest dose of the primary vaccination or after the booster. A negative PCR test obtained no more than 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test no more than a day old can also be included in the certificate as proof of recovery no more than six months ago.

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Coffee Shop calls out scare tactics by ‘bullies’ demanding entry

Feb 4 2022

Pay it forward Coffee Shop ‘Jacob’s Brew’ took to Facebook to call out scare tactics and threats of boycott by customers demanding entry despite not having vaccine certificates. The post started with the owners reminding customers that the regulation of full vaccination to enter bars and/or restaurants being applicable until next Monday 7th February.

‘Only 4 days to go and this ruling will end and we will once again be allowed to serve everyone at our shop’ it said. The post expressed how it wasn’t easy turning away people who did not comply to the ruling.

‘We were pained to do so, but we have made it very clear from the start that we will abide by the regulations for the health and safety of our customers and staff since the beginning of the pandemic.’ They went on to highlight some of the harassment they experienced in trying to maintain this regulation. ‘We are proud to state that despite bullying, threats and even malicious posts citing to boycott our shop we have stood our ground throughout.’

‘Whether we agree to it or not doesn’t come into it at all’ said the post […] If we have offended you then we are sorry, but we will not apologise for abiding by the law.’ It went on to state that ‘the establishments that chose to break the law did so out of pure greed and not because they pitied you.’ It went on to say that they will not bow down to the bullies and their scare tactics.

It also spoke on ‘behalf of all businesses effected in recent weeks by this mandatory requirement’ saying that it is so ‘wrong on so many levels that we have been unfairly persecuted throughout. Discrimination works both ways unfortunately.’ Jacob, known as Titanium Man, was diagnosed with sinusitis at 15, but managed to survive from that and other surgeries pertaining to other inflictions. After his recuperation, his family went ahead and made his dream of opening a coffee shop a reality.

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Here are some of the new releases coming to Netflix in February

Feb 3 2022

Netflix is set for another stacked month of great releases and after making space for some new films, series and specials, it’s a big month for streaming. The biggest Netflix release to come out this month is the much-anticipated ‘jeen:yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’, a three-episode documentary featuring decades of newly-surfaced archive footage which document the controversial rappers rise from young producer to industry giant.

Other releases include Bubba Wallace’s RACE docuseries, which covers his experiences within the NASCAR circuit as well as the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre Film. For drama fans, Shonda Rhime’s Inventing Anna series also drops this month and will surround the life of Instagram-famous New York heiress Anna Delvey and the journalist that follows her story.

New releases are always a good time especially when you have some free time in the evenings, the best thing about new Netflix additions is the cavalcade of classics to join the streaming platform’s ranks. These include 1991’s The Addams Family, Batman Begins, Despicable Me, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Blackhat and much more.

What are you looking forward to this month?

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71-year-old worker loses life in Birzebbuga truck incident

Feb 3 2022

Earlier today, at around 1pm, the Malta Police Force was informed that a 71-year-old worker residing in Mġarr sustained grievous injuries in an incident in Triq Wied il-Qoton, Birzebbugia.

Police officials went on site and from preliminary investigations it was found that the man was helping another worker manoeuvre his truck before he was hit by the same truck. An ambulance was called on site with a medical team attempting to assist the victim before unfortunately certifying him as dead on site.

The driver, a 35-year-old from Mosta, did not sustain an injuries. Magistrate Doreen Clarke was informed of the case and launched an investigation together with a number of experts to assist her.

Police investigations are currently under way.

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