The Medical Association of Malta, in a statement on Monday, joined the appeal for the government to stop all mass gatherings with immediate effect.

Similar calls have also been made by the Malta Employers Association and the Malta College of Pathologists. This follows the confirmation of a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, with 14 reported on Sunday, including a cluster from the hotel party in Malta which was held the previous weekend.

The MAM said that it fears “we may not have seen the worst yet.” It went on to condemn the Tourism Ministry “for lobbying abroad to attract mass parties for thousands of non-Maltese after these have been denied permission abroad.”

It argued that, “to date none of the EU countries have authorised mass gatherings, while many EU countries are now considering stricter controls on air travel, including pre and post travel screening and quarantine.”

The Union added that, “it was to be expected that the combination of opening the airport to high risk countries and the encouraging of mass activities was a ticking time bomb ready to explode.”

“Decisions have to be taken based on sound scientific evidence and not on populistic considerations,” the Union stressed. “In fact, to date travel insurances are not covering any medical expenses arising from Covid-19.”

MAM went on to say that while it understands that “all those employed in the tourist industry have to be supported, high risk gambling with the health of the Maltese people is unacceptable particularly when it appears that an effective vaccine will be available within a few months.”

The Union condemned without reservation, what it described as “the bad example given by the organisation of a concert by the Office of the Prime Minister where absolutely no social distancing measures were taken as recommended by the office of the superintendent of public health.”

It stressed that, “the idea of political leaders telling the Maltese people that Covid is over and that they can do whatever they like with impunity is not acceptable to the medical profession. Organisers and politicians must realise that they become personally legally and financially liable should illness or death result from disease.”

MAM concluded by saying that, “for the above mentioned reasons, if the sensible decisions to protect the health of the Maltese people are not taken, MAM will have no alternative to declare a dispute and order directives so as to protect the health of its members and their families from the dangers and consequences of illogical decisions, taken in name of profit and populism.”

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