The Association of Catering Establishments (ACE) has pointed out that the Government has on various occasions given the message that it would like to “find a balance.” It argued that “the recent measures are far from reaching a balance and not addressing the true problem which is enforcement.”

ACE has condemned what it calls “the behaviour of the few” which led to the increase in numbers. It stressed that “most catering establishments have observed the protocols but yet again due to the lack of enforcement on the true problem once again ACE members have to pay the price.”

It went on to accuse the health authorities of “bullying small micro enterprises and yet did not address the real problem and known regular breaches were left engaging into illegal practices.”

“It was easy for them to attack the small entrepreneurs rather than addressing the bullies. Catering Establishments, Bars and clubs have been the continuous target of the Health Authorities showing that the Ministry is very weak in handling the situation and has no real adequate strategy,” ACE said.

ACE said that it did “not agree with Prof Gauci statement that catering establishments are a source for diffusion” and called “for the publication of such studies, if any, compared with the studies showing that the mass events in households and other places.”

It went on to say that it would also like to see the monitoring of cases and the diffusion as occurred in schools which have no longer been communicated.

The ACE condemned, what it said was “the Government attitude taken today whereby it also failed to give the necessary notice to ensure that establishments take care of the existent stock.”

“Will the Government be refunding the stock establishments are now stuck with? Also how about rents, water and electricity bills, MTA licences and other fixed costs,” it asked.

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