Be the first to comment!MAM to discuss reactivation of directives after Government U-turn on bars
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The Medical Association of Malta Council said that it will be meeting today on whether to reactivate all directives, after a U-turn by the Government on the closing of bars from today.
In a statement, it said that this comes after what it describes as the “Malta Tourism Authority in self-destruct mode and fomenting epidemics again putting profit before health.”
The MAM said that “it was understood that only bars with a license to function as a restaurant would be allowed to operate as restaurants, as standing establishments present a much higher risk of contagion.”
However, the Malta Tourism authority legal notice issued is completely different from what was announced by the Superintendent of Public Health, “undermining public health measures aimed at controlling the epidemic.”
The Association argued that “serving a bag of crisps with a drink, does not modify your license, neither does it change the genetics of a virus. Whoever drafted the legal notice is insulting the intelligence of all the Maltese people.”
It stated that “the Ministry for Tourism by promoting rave parties, has been responsible for causing a major epidemic in Malta with one of the highest numbers of daily new cases in Europe.”
“This has resulted in one EU country after another adding Malta to its black list, leaving the tourism industry in Malta in tatters and on the way to a complete shutdown,” it said.
“The PM’s first public statements in months encouraging discipline among people are noted, ” the MAM said, “however they must not be a cynical excuse not to take the responsible decision to stop the spread of the virus.”
The Government should provide financial support and compensation to bars and clubs and not continue to compromise the health of the Maltese people, the MAM said.
It stressed that “MTA officials should realise that disregarding the advice of the Superintendent of Public Health renders itself, and whoever follows its notice liable to civil and criminal damages should patients become seriously ill and die.”
