A thank you to all heroes

The Maltese people have always rallied together in a show of support and solidarity in times of need, and the Covid-19 crisis is no different.

Thousands of Maltese families took up the call to go out on their balconies and roofs on Tuesday evening to clap and cheer for the heroes in the medical profession – the thousands of doctors, nurses and other medical staff who are giving their all to care for those who contracted the Coronavirus and who are working tirelessly to slow down its spread as much as possible.

The gesture was a simple one, but it made a huge difference to these dedicated workers who were shown that their hard work, dedication and bravery is not going unnoticed.

So, we dedicate our editorial today to these heroes, and to others who are doing their part in these difficult times.

While doctors, nurses and other professionals are the ones on the front lines, we cannot fail to mention the people at the top who are taking on huge responsibilities and making difficult decisions. Praise must be given to the Superintendent of Public Health, Charmaine Gauci, and her team. Gauci has not only been leading the preparations and the fight against the Coronavirus but has also been keeping the public informed through her daily briefings.

The same goes for those in government who are also very much involved in this crisis from a medical angle, but also those making arrangements in travel, logistics and the economy in general.

Our police officers, firefighters, soldiers and local wardens deserve our praise and admiration. While there have been complaints about a lack of equipment in some cases, these brave men and women are giving a helping hand, making sure that quarantine rules are observed and delivering medicines and food to those who cannot go out. Thanks goes to all those who have been manning the helplines, taking calls from concerned citizens and doing all they can to put people’s minds at rest.

We cannot forget all the carers who are taking care of the elderly and other vulnerable people, and who have had to part with their families for a number of weeks, in order not to spread the virus.

Thanks goes out to those landlords who have offered free accommodation to doctors and nurses who cannot return to their loved ones after working with infected people, and to those who have lowered their rents so that families facing difficulty do not end up homeless.

To the catering establishments who have been supplying medical personnel and others with food and drinks throughout these trying times, and to all employers who are doing all they can to safeguard the jobs of their employees and to help them work from home.

Lastly, we thank all journalists, including our own, who have been working inhumane hours to keep the public supplied with accurate information.

Forgive us if we left someone out. But thank you to all those who are playing their part in the unfolding situation. You know who you are.

A man and a boy walk past a double-decker bus that is used as a cafe, symbolically wearing a face mask, in Kyiv, Ukraine, yesterday. Ukraine has so far reported more then ten confirmed cases of the new virus and two deaths. Ukrainian government closed the country's border last week, shut down schools, banned public events, suspended public transportation and imposed fines for violating quarantine protocols. For most people, the new Coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. Photo: AP