‘COVID-19 will not kill Christmas’ – government announces Christmas in the City

• Medical unions call move ‘irresponsible’

“COVID-19 will not kill Christmas,” Valletta Cultural Agency Chairman Jason Micallef said during the government’s launch of ‘Christmas in the City’ in Valletta; a month long activity programme to keep the Christmas spirit and the capital city alive during the upcoming season.

The announcement of the programme resulted in concerns raised by both the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, as well as the Medical Association of Malta, stating that such a move is irresponsible.

During her address at the launch, Tourism Minster Julia Farrugia Portelli said that during this extraordinary period, the ministry and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) have been hard at work finding ways to support the industry in a regulated manner. “This includes keeping Malta’s capital alive, as it is a main attractor of tourism and a major hub for the hospitality industry,” she said.

Farrugia Portelli said that with this initiative, the ministry would like to promote more local tourism, starting through a €50,000 investment by the MTA which will allow free public access to the MCP car park in Valletta starting from 8 December till the end of the year.

MTA Chairman Gavin Gulia explained that Valletta has transformed itself into a distinct location from other cities in Malta due to its history as well as its hospitality establishments, including 2 to 5-star hotels and also guest houses.

With this in mind, the MTA is doing what it can to make the city more accessible to the public.

Apart from this initiative aimed at making the city more accessible to the public, ‘Christmas in the City’ will bring a whole programme of activities which will start from 20 November till the end of the year.

“COVID-19 will not kill Christmas. We want to ensure that the Christmas spirit stays alive,” said Jason Micallef, while describing what one can expect from this programme of activities.

The city will be adorned with lights across a number of areas, including Merchant Street, Republic Street as well as St George’s Square. A crib will also be set up in La Vallette Square.

The programme also includes three types of activities that vary from children's choirs as well as adult ones, an opera show by locally and internationally renowned singer Nico Darmanin and other activities spread throughout the city.

Micallef emphasised that the programme will not include any mass events. There are also ongoing discussions among stakeholders to extend opening times for retail outlets in order to promote commerce during this festive season.

The Malta Independent contacted both the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) as well as the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) for their reactions.

“It is extremely irresponsible of these political figures to give out such mixed messages. The Health Authorities are telling people not to have any gatherings, both outside and inside of their homes – I am surprised how Health Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendent Charmaine Gauci did not shoot this idea down,” MUMN President Paul Pace said.

“We have been advising people not to gather during Christmas time and these are the mixed messages that the government keeps giving to the people. We have our Health Minister telling us one thing and our Tourism Minister telling us another.”

He said that he was extremely shocked to see such an event launched.

Self-illusion that COVID-19 is not here - MAM President

Martin Balzan, president of MAM, shared similar opinions.

“This is not on, and it is similar to what happened back in summer when we allowed parties to take place; except now it is worse because we have cases in their hundreds on a daily basis, whereas back then we only had a few,” he said.

Balzan remarked that the event is being presented as something of an illusion as if COVID-19 is no longer an issue.

He said that more responsible governments abroad are calling for curfews and are informing people to stay inside.

“From a medical point of view such an event is extremely irresponsible,” he concluded.