Good measures but ‘fake’ enforcement will not reduce COVID numbers – MAM

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) welcomed some of the COVID-19 restrictive measures introduced by the government on Friday evening, however said that it remains ‘very skeptical’ and ‘unconvinced’ about the government’s willingness to enforce.

On Friday, it was announced that masks will need to be worn in all outdoor public areas and also at the workplace. In addition, from Monday bars and clubs would need to close by 11pm.

MAM took note of the record COVID-19 numbers announced throughout the past week, “accompanied by a clear and relentless upward trend of cases and hospitalizations.”

“Inevitably more intensive care admissions and deaths will soon follow. Unfortunately the Maltese people are yet to see the worst of this epidemic,” the union said.

“The government’s business as usual attitude and the illusion of fake normality, promoted by the prime minister himself, has clearly backfired and led to record after record of cases. Both the health of the Maltese people and the economy have suffered enormously because of these blunders. The large uptake of the influenza vaccine, while a good thing in itself, is a clear reflection on how concerned the elderly are.”

Fake measures such as ‘crisps with COVID’ in bars and social clubs (każini) have acted as superspreaders, MAM said. “Fake or no enforcement, coupled with fake and pardonable fines led to regular mass events in areas like Paceville and Valetta. Closure at 11 pm will have no impact at all, while the very low number of 800 fines in two months does not augur well. Sadly both reflect that the government is, in reality, unwilling to enforce.”

Testing just 15 arrivals a day at the airport was another “fake” measure, MAM said, “meaning that possibly hundreds of cases are coming to Malta with COVID19 every week and remain undetected. Obligatory testing on all passengers who do not pretest before arrival should be introduced, if it is true that rapid tests are now available, however at a hefty price tag for careless tourists. To date the open door to cities with lockdown remains wide open, unbelievable but real.”

MAM said that it welcomes the introduction of obligatory mask wearing indoors. “Up until yesterday the wearing of masks at the workplace was only obligatory for workers in contact with the public. This fake measure had misled thousands of office and factory workers not to wear masks indoors. Until yesterday, 90% of employees in Malta were under no obligation to wear masks indoors. After disastrous numbers of COVID-19 cases arising in workers at their place of work to the detriment of their families, it appears that this blunder was now rectified.”

It is also essential that more telework from home is encouraged, MAM said.