Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1215405
27.02.2020 9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST: MASSIMO COSTA BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 R ationality dictates that Malta will undoubtedly soon have its first cases of coronavirus - no country is immune to the spread of COVID-19. Disease knows no borders or national- ities and it is only logical to expect that at some point Malta will also register its first coronavirus cases. As of yesterday, the World Health Or- ganisation was reporting more than 80,000 cases of COVID-19 across 34 countries. In Europe, Italy is facing the most serious outbreak with the author- ities taking radical decisions to isolate cases and contain the disease. Experts in the field of virology and in- fectious diseases tell us that COVID-19 is not a "scary virus" but that its novelty demands monitoring. e authorities in Malta are taking the necessary precautions to be able to deal with the eventuality of an outbreak. We trust that all decisions being taken are based on sound risk assessment in line with established practices when dealing with infectious diseases. On this we prefer to believe what the experts have to say rather than the com- pletely irrational and hysterical reactions on social media. Within this context, this leader calls for a pro-active transparent approach by the health authorities to address general concerns and those of particular groups of workers. is is especially so for frontline work- ers such as nurses, doctors, care workers, the forces of law and order, and teachers, where contact with people is inevitable. Public criticism levelled by the Mal- ta Union of Midwives and Nurses over the country's preparedness must be ad- dressed because people who want to panic will capitalise on the concerns of respected entities like unions. Information is the best tool to combat lack of knowledge and ignorance. Ad- mittedly, in the era of social media fren- zy this can be a hard slog. Nonetheless, the health authorities and anybody in a position of influence must be responsible by disseminating information that has a basis in science. e last thing Malta needs is an out- break of panic in a situation where COV- ID-19 is already having a destabilising impact on world markets. e panic-buying witnessed over the past two days is irrational and will only cause more problems. From a trade point of view the Cham- ber for Small and Medium Enterprises has called on its members to take the necessary provisions and prepare for de- lays in import and export processes. e complete lock-down of some fac- tories in China has had a knock-on ef- fect on trade and this will undoubtedly impact supply chains, the Chamber cau- tioned. Its advice was for members to be ful- ly aware of this and be transparent with consumers to avoid disputes as a result of possible supply delays. Quick resolution of problems that may crop up such as the concerns raised by port workers over the past few days, is a must. is newspaper reports that agreement has been reached by port worker repre- sentatives, freight and shipping compa- nies, and the port authorities to have a doctor board incoming cargo vessels to ensure nobody on board is ill. ese quick decisions are important to ensure the least possible impact on the economy of this virus. While larger countries like Italy may af- ford locking down certain localities and regions because the economic impact can be absorbed nationally, even if this comes at a considerable cost, Malta can- not possibly isolate itself from the world. is is why taking focussed direct ac- tion within the parameters of rationality is necessary and must not be overlooked. On Tuesday, the head of the infectious diseases unit highlighted the difference between being vigilant and being afraid. Vigilance, transparency and prepared- ness are what this country needs, not fear, panic and misinformation. COVID-19: Vigilance, transparency and preparedness