Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli has unveiled a new initiative called Hug A Shopper.
During a press conference in Valletta this morning, Farrugia Portelli said the initiative was meant to combat feelings of loneliness caused by Covid-19 measures.
“A lot of people could do with a hug right now, so we want to encourage anyone who needs some human contact to embrace a stranger while they’re out shopping over the upcoming holiday period,” she said, adding that huggers would be allowed to remove their face masks for maximum feelings of togetherness.
“And because it’s also important that people spend money, anyone who hugs at least 10 fellow shoppers will receive a voucher from the government to spend on Christmas party supplies.”
At the end of the press conference, the minister, Valletta mayor Alfred Zammit, Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Jason Micallef and several aids came together for a symbolic group hug.
At the time of writing, sources at the Ministry For Health told Bis-Serjetà that Chris Fearne had just swallowed a cyanide pill.
