“If we think everything is calm and serene because no one is saying anything, it’s not the case,” says chef Sean Gravina

Jan 9 2022

In a recent Facebook post, chef Sean Gravina expressed his frustration at where Malta stands with COVID-19 at the moment, with regards to the restaurant and hospitality situation. The Crust boss stated that “if we think that everything is calm and serene because no one is saying anything, it is not the case,” shedding light on the ‘exaggerated’ amount of people in quarantine and the confusion brought about by Malta’s 10-day quarantine period.

The chef recounted an employment predicament, by where it would be difficult to terminate the job of a working mother if she were unable to take the vaccine for some reason. He asked that if in a few months authorities would call for the fourth dose and he refused to have it, would he have to shut down his restaurant?

“Restaurant, sport activities, bar, pools and gyms all require a vaccine certificate, but a super-market JAM-PACKED with people during the weekend is okay… because the Omicron feels uncomfortable entering.”

Gravina also highlighted the congestion restaurants would have to face to check everyone’s vaccine certificate, and appealed to the authorities to allow people working in the hospitality industry to contribute before mistakes are made.

What do you make of this?

#MaltaDaily

Conversion therapy now illegal in Canada after unanimous parliamentary approval

Jan 9 2022

On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to announce that conversion therapy was officially banned in Canada after unanimous parliamentary decision. Trudeau accentuated that it was now illegal in Canada to “promote, advertise, benefit from, or subject someone to this hateful and harmful practice. LGBTQ2 rights are human rights.”

As of today, it’s official: Conversion therapy is banned in Canada. Our government’s legislation has come into force – which means it is now illegal to promote, advertise, benefit from, or subject someone to this hateful and harmful practice. LGBTQ2 rights are human rights.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 7, 2022

Conversion therapy tactics included medical and drug-induced treatment, talk and aversion therapy, amongst others. Non-profit organisation Trans PULSE Canada revealed that up until 2019, 11% of 2,000 non-binary and transgender survey participants underwent conversion therapy.

Canada now joins a list of around a dozen other countries where conversion therapy is banned, with Malta being the first European country to ban conversion therapy back in 2016.

#MaltaDaily

Maltese DJ Edd places in BBC Radio 1’s list of Top 10 Future Dance Stars of 2022

Jan 9 2022

After what has been a momentous year for Maltese DJ and producer Edd, the young talent is off to a massive start in 2022 after being named one of BBC Radio 1’s Future Dance Stars of 2022.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Edd (@edd.wav)

Edd took to Instagram to share the amazing news, stating that he was stuck inside finishing assignments when he found out that he placed on the list curated by BBC DJs Pete Tong, Sarah Story and Danny Howard, calling it “an absolute honour.”

The District-managed house don has featured on BBC Radio 1 multiple times, receiving support on many other tracks with Sarah Story herself stating that the young artist has “such a bright future” ahead of him. He has also received support from a wave of international talent such as Denis Sulta, Jamie Jones and Patrick Topping, with the latter signing Edd on his Trick Label for three-track EP ‘Neon Tokyo.’

Congratulations to the young star – the future is bright!

#MaltaDaily

Employees call for right to ask about vaccination status of quarantined workers

Jan 8 2022

Employees want the right to request vaccine certificates from their employees, the Chamber of Commerce revealed on quarantine letters obliging them to be aware of an employee’s vaccination status.

Public health authorities have announced that a quarantine release letter will no longer be issued and that a positive COVID test result will include a quarantine order for the entire household.

The duration of quarantine for every household member is dependent, under current measures, on the vaccination status of the positive person and one’s vaccination status in the case of household contacts.

However, the Chamber of Commerce has pointed out it would not be possible for employers to able to deduce the length of quarantine of an employee unless they are shown a positive test result of those who may not even be within their employ of be aware of the vaccination status of their employees and of the household member who is positive.

The call for employers to have the right to request information about the vaccination status of employees has long been made by the Chamber. It is now requesting the government to adopt a pragmatic approach to limit duration of quarantine solely to the status of individual employer. Otherwise, it would be impossible for employers to manage any abuse of the current system.

#MaltaDaily