Government insists situation is ‘absolutely under control’ as Prime Minister calls MCESD meeting

The government has insisted that the situation is “absolutely under control” as the Prime Minister called a meeting with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

After a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela called a meeting with the MCESD so that Malta’s position in the COVID-19 pandemic can be discussed.

A government statement read that the decision was taken after the social partners asked for more information about the present situation and the way forward.

Indeed, while the government through Health Minister Chris Fearne is continuing discussions with the Medical Association of Malta and other unions, the Prime Minister will be giving a “factual update” to the whole MCESD in this meeting.

The meeting will take place this coming Thursday.

“The government reiterates that the situation in our country is absolutely under control and assured that it will keep taking the necessary decisions in a balanced and mature manner, and that it will continue to safeguard the health of the people and the people’s livelihood through the strengthening of the economy upon which the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitan families depends,” the government said.

The MCESD is a council made up of Malta’s biggest constituted bodies, which represent various industries and sectors of society. The UHM – Voice of the Workers, General Workers’ Union, Malta Chamber of Commerce, the SMEs Chamber, the

Malta Employer’s Association and the MHRA are amongst its members.

The meeting comes as Malta faces a renewed spike of the virus. With 215 active cases of the virus as of Tuesday afternoon, although over 80 of which are migrants who were immediately isolated upon arrival in Malta, there have been concerns over whether the government is handling the surge correctly.