The Medical Association of Malta has said that it once again takes note of the record numbers of Covid cases accompanied by a “clear and relentless” upward trend of cases and hospitalisations.

In a statement on Saturday, the MAM said “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 argued that the Government attitude of “business as usual” 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 economy have suffered enormously because of these blunders,” it said.

MAM went on to say that the large uptake of the influenza vaccine, while a good thing in itself is a clear reflection on how concerned the elderly are at risks to their health caused by these policies.

MAM welcomed some of the measures announced yesterday evening, which, it said, “by and large reflected what it has repeatedly insisted on since August.” However it remained very sceptical and unconvinced on the willingness to enforce by the Government.

It stated that “fake measures such as `crisps with covid’ in bars and social clubs (kazini) have acted as super-spreaders.”

“Fake or no enforcement, coupled with fake and pardonable fines have led to regular mass events in areas like Paceville and Valletta,” the union said.

It stated that closure at 11.00pm 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.”

The union stressed that testing just 15 arrivals a day at the airport was another “fake” measure, meaning that “possibly hundreds of cases are coming to Malta with Covid every week and remain undetected.”

It stated that obligatory testing on all passengers who do not pretest before arrival should be introduced, if it is true that rapid tests are now available, at a hefty price tag for careless tourists. “To date the door to cities with lockdown remains wide open, unbelievable but real.”

MAM welcomed the introduction of obligatory mask wearing indoors. Up to now the wearing of masks at the workplace was only obligatory for workers in contact with the public.

It added that this “fake” measure had misled thousands of office and factory workers not to wear masks in doors. To date 90% of employees were under no obligation to wear one at their place of work.

The union said that following “disastrous numbers” of cases among workers to the detriment of their families, “it appears that this blunder may now be rectified.” It is also essential that more telework from home is encouraged, it added.

“This is the last chance for the Maltese people as after all it is only the Maltese people that can give hope in this situation,” the Union said.

The MAM warned that “if these measures failed Malta will be left with no other option except lock downs and curfews as has happened in Spain, France and the UK.”

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