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21.05.2020 5 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 M alta cannot remain in a perpetual state of lock- down, or partial lockdown, which is why the gradual reopening of the economy and social life is a welcome move. e government has adopted a gradual approach to re- opening with a strong emphasis on mitigation measures that continue to remind us that the COVID-19 threat has not gone away. Essentially, the reopening acknowledges the human need to socialise and earn a living. Both are factors that were put on hold for more than two months as health considerations justifiably took the upper hand at a time when the world battled an unknown virus. But even scientists will acknowledge that maintaining the lockdown restrictions for longer without offering a glimmer of hope would have resulted in fatigue, making people reckless just the same by silently ignoring health advice. A gradual reopening ensures that these human needs are managed in the best possible manner through con- trols and mitigation measures. It also ensures that people can start to earn a living again. Preventing a rapid spread of the virus remains of ut- most importance and the health authorities have done well to increase the number of tests and cast a wider net. Vigilance, testing, identification of suspect cases and isolation remain important tools to manage the pan- demic well and they must not be set aside. Within this context, it makes sense that the reopening of restaurants, hairdressers, beauticians, barbers, hotels and outdoor pools came with strict protocols to ensure that social distancing and good hygiene levels are main- tained. It has to be acknowledged though that the onerous ob- ligations are likely to be problematic for some outlets, especially the smaller ones. In today's edition, we speak with a number of restau- rant owners, who have expressed their frustration be- cause the mitigation measures will not make it finan- cially feasible for them to reopen. e social distancing measures will mean much fewer tables and for small operations this will mean not enough income to cover basic running costs. is is a reality that cannot be ignored, which is why it remains imperative that government support is not withdrawn anytime soon. Government ministers have gone on record saying that economic aid packages introduced to help businesses that were forcibly shut will continue to be offered and tapered off at a later stage as things start to roll. is is important because the mitigation measures put forward by the health authorities mean that not all res- taurants can reopen for business on Friday, or even the foreseeable future if the mitigation measures remain the same. e same probably holds for some other opera- tions like hairdressers. is leader is not advocating the removal of mitigation measures – these should continue to be applied and modified according to what health experts advise. It can neither agree with the philosophy that unless all outlets can open for custom, everyone should have remained shut – this would be a recipe for preserving the misera- ble status quo. From a macroeconomic point of view, it is important that businesses start to operate, people return to work and society starts to function, even if not everyone is able to do so. e circumstances are not normal and are expected to remain so for months on end with the ever-present possibility that restrictions may be re-introduced if in- fection levels rise. And in sectors such as catering, much will also depend on consumer behaviour that can be conditioned by fear. But it helps if the over-enthusiasm of some is mod- erated with a dose of reality. While it is positive and welcome that restrictions have started being lifted, this does not mean everyone can reopen. is is a reality that has to be acknowledged, even at government's higher echelons. A glimmer of hope for some

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