Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1278887
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 AUGUST 2020 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA MALTA'S doctors have blamed the tourism lobby for a spike in COVID-19 cases and its result- ant effects on the economy. The Medical Association of Malta announced a pause on industrial directives for a week as from yesterday, saying it ex- pected decisive action by the government. But it said that if Malta wants to avoid a lockdown, social dis- tancing and widespread wear- ing of masks with very strict en- forcement under pain of fines, was necessary. "MAM must unfortunate- ly register that all the conse- quences it had foreseen and publicly warned about are now materialising. The Santa Ma- ria feast which normally com- memorates the end WW2 siege by the Malta convoy, may now be associated with 'our darkest hour' as air travel is seriously limited in the COVID crisis," MAM said as Malta went on several orange and red lists of EU countries limiting travel to the island. MAM president Martin Balzan blamed the Malta Ho- tels and Restaurants Associa- tion for putting pressure on the Malta Tourism Authority and the government. "Most EU countries have shown us the red card, practi- cally issuing Malta a formal cer- tificate of incompetence. Open- ing the airport to high-risk countries with no precautions whatsoever, the promotion of the delusion that 'the war is over' and the completely irra- tional decision to actively pro- mote mass events to irrespon- sible revellers created a lethal, poisoned cocktail which the Maltese people will find very hard to swallow," Balzan said. The MAM said that with COVID-19 cases steadily rising, front-line health staff were risk- ing their own health because of "greed, false expectations and disregard of logical scientific advice." "The livelihood of both em- ployers and of thousands of employees in the tourist sector is now at grave risk. The gov- ernment cannot afford to be in denial of the grave situation… it must recognise its errors and deal immediately and decisively to prevent further irreparable damage. It is now time to fol- low the advice of the experts in public health and be guided by scientific evidence," Balzan said. The MAM want effective pub- lic health measures to reduce the COVID-19 numbers in as short a time frame as possi- ble are necessary. "There is no place for partying, for discos, or clubbing in the thick of such an epidemic, when very sick people are presenting to Mater Dei. All events of more than ten people are the root cause of our problem and must be stopped immediately." Doctors accuse tourism lobby for COVID-19 'disaster' on economy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The new cases were being con- tact-traced, the health ministry said, say- ing that persons who had been in contact with positive cases will be contacted in the coming hours. Abela will be on One TV today, taking questions from reporters as his admin- istration comes under fire from doctors' associations and the Opposition over worries that Malta's fast re-opening of the economy and airport are to blame. MaltaToday understands that up to 11 new cases were reported in homes for the elderly: five from a care home, where the health authorities are currently swabbing all staff and patients; six at another nurs- ing home. Staff in the ward there are un- derstood to be using full PPE at this time. Three cases were confirmed at a restau- rant in Sliema and another five cases at a children's play area in Hal Far. Up to three new cases were reported at a Pace- ville nightclub. The club has been closed. Reactions yesterday came from PN leadership candidate Adrian Delia, who mocked Abela's ill-advised derision over a "second wave". "The only waves are at sea… but a rough sea surely. And surely not as stubborn as those privileged with the responsibility of the country, who have thrown all caution to the wind. The captain is seeking safe harbour elsewhere." His leadership rival, Bernard Grech, said the Labour government was responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 infec- tions. "It is still giving us the false impres- sion that the pandemic is no longer with us. Our duty is say the truth, always, be- cause the people's health comes first." Partit Demokratiku yesterday also called for the immediate resignation of tourism minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, saying her handling of the COVID-19 situation had caused Malta's tourism product to suffer. "Hospitality operators have shared with us their grave concerns about the im- pending fate of the industry, their invest- ments and their employees and their fam- ilies. The knock-on effect on the Maltese economy, which is intimately connected to the tourism industry, will be devastat- ing if the long term downward spiral of visitor numbers continues," PD said. "As a result of the bad handling of the crisis, Malta's tourism product is suffer- ing. Its reputation shall now be one of an irresponsible party island, and thus damages the objective of attracting high spending quality tourism over quantity." The statement came hours after low- cost airline EasyJet announced that it was cancelling all of its package holidays to Malta for the coming weeks. Malta requires a management team made up of "competent, experienced and qualified persons" who could instil some form of stability for the tourism industry which is haemorrhaging numbers, PD said. The party said it endorsed the over- riding vision as stated in the Ministry of Tourism's National Tourism Policy 2015- 2020 document, promoting "controlled growth, which is achievable through the targeting of appropriate markets with the aim of achieving higher rates of economic returns and returns on investment." "Saying that tourism operators' confi- dence in the tourism ministry and min- ister was vital for continued investment," the PD said, adding that Robert Abela had to replace Farrugia Portelli. "We therefore appeal to the Prime Min- ister to do what is expected from him and appoint someone who can get the job done!" MHRA president Tony Zahra (centre): the tourism lobby's demands for a travel season in summer are now being roundly criticised PD says tourism minister should resign Julia Farrugia-Portelli came in for criticism over her handling of Malta's tourism re-opening Cases 1348 Local 1271 Active 557 Recoveries 782 Deaths 9 Swabs 154,522 LATEST COVID-19 www.maltatoday.com.mt/covid19