Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1290275
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS March 7 12 year old Italian girl is Malta's first COVID case to be detected. March 12 School closure announced after ninth case of COVID-19 is recorded. March 17 Bars, restaurants, gyms and non- essential retail shops are closed. March 20 Airport closed. March 24 Robert Abela unveils new coronavirus aid package which includes €800 monthly wage for workers in hard-hit sectors. March 26 Lockdown of over 65 year olds announced as total number of cases recorded since start of pandemic reach 134. April 7 52 cases recorded in one day. April 8 Malta records first COVID death. April 11 Cabinet declares that Malta is no- longer a safe port for migrants. May 4 Non-essential retail shops re-opened. May 16 Front liners express concern after 14 cases are registered in a single day. May 17 Prime Minister Robert Abela downplays risk of second wave of COVID 19 saying that "Waves are found in the sea, there's no need to strike up public fear of a second wave." May 18 After two months of daily updates, briefings by Charmaine Gauci reduced to 3 a week. May 21 MHRA President Tony Zahra dismisses From excellence to shambles? 200 days of COVID From an orderly and effective response that saw active cases dropping to three, to a general loss of control in the face of a second wave that saw cases rise to over 600, what did we learn from our collective response to COVID-19? asks JAMES DEBONO THE Maltese complied with the rules in an orderly fashion in the face of a deadly virus. Their behaviour during the partial lockdown belied a repu- tation for a lax attitude towards enforcement. The Maltese pub- lic health system proved resilient and efficient, boasting the third largest number of swabs in the EU, and one of the highest in the world. As more were swabbed, more infected people were iso- lated, thanks to contact-tracing. Malta appeared close to becom- ing COVID-free by mid-July when only three active cases were recorded. Leadership Political and civic leader- ship was effective in the initial response, but lacking in the 're-opening' phase which was full of mixed messages from the highest authorities. Malta's compliance and resil- ience during the first wave came in the wake of strong leadership, with the government and health authorities sending a clear mes- sage to the population to prac- tice social distancing and for the elderly to stay put in lockdown. Daily briefs by Health Superin- tendent Charmaine Gauci, unit- ed the nation in a common sense of purpose while health workers were saluted from balconies in a collective show of appreciation. Restrictions were also imposed and subsequently lifted in an or- derly way, with the government rejecting calls for a total lock- down except for over 65s and the closure of shops, bars, res- taurants and gyms. These restrictions were accom- panied by financial assistance to the worst-hit sectors and a basic income of €800 for those who had lost their job. But as summer approached, in a misguided attempt to boost consumer confidence and rescue the tourism industry, PM Robert Abela dismissed the risk of a sec- ond wave with his ill-advised 'sea waves' comment. It seemed the strategy had paid off as cases decreased even after the reopening of retail shops, bars, restaurants and the air- port. But just as the country had managed to reduce active cases to three, the collective guard was lowered. Not only were mass gatherings and parties allowed but rules on the wearing of masks on bus- es were not even enforced. The stoppage of Gauci's daily bul- letins eliminated an important, non-partisan point of reference. And suddenly the priority shift- ed from containing the virus to kick-starting the economy: the consequence was a spike in cas- es. Onto the second wave Increased spending on health services and ventilators, meant Malta is now more prepared than in March to meet any esca- lation of the crisis in winter. The downside is that schools will be reopening at a moment when the virus is rearing its ugly head again. Over-65s made the greatest sacrifices during the first wave and are now taking the brunt of a second wave unleashed by partygoers. As the only category forced into total lockdown, they were more prone to mental health issues and loneliness. They also took the brunt in terms of deaths. But COVID-19 weakened the solidarity between the riski- er, younger generation and the risk-averse older generations. The second wave was triggered by mass gatherings attended by younger people, who constituted the bulk of positive cases in Au- gust. That ended up threatening residents in old people's homes who accounted for 51 cases of the record 105 cases reported on Wednesday. The opening of schools risks further exacerbat- ing generational tensions, espe- cially if more grandparents are exposed to infected nephews due to their role as child-mind- ers while parents are working. Moreover the deaths of elderly people were often coupled with references to 'underlying con- ditions', which perpetuates the cruel perception that COVID-19 mainly only impacts on people who have passed away anyway. Economic padding The kitty left by Malta's eco- nomic growth in times of plenty saved the island but also exposed Malta's economic vulnerabilities and inequalities. The country's dependence on tourism and the multiplier effect of its disposable 'reserve army' of foreign workers at the top a n d bottom end o f the labour market, was exposed in the past months. The rush to reopen the country to tourism and enter- tainment places, triggered by pressures from the industry it- self, has practically undone the sacrifices made in the first three months and put at risk the rest of the economy at risk. The cri- sis exposed a rift between busi- ness lobbies who petitioned for a swift return to normality, dub- bing calls for caution as 'project fear'. But the economy in other sec- tors showed signs of resilience, with many employers wisely choosing to safeguard their em- ployees' jobs. While large seg- ment of workers – especially those in public employment – were largely spared from a drop in income, the crisis increased the precariousness of workers in the private sector, especial- ly those have to pay exorbitant rents. Inequalities: the exposed and exposed-nots COVID-19 exposed inequali- ties between those who can in- sulate themselves and those who are exposed. Calls for stricter lockdown measures and opposi- tion to the lifting of restrictions or reopening of schools exposed a fault-line between those living in spacious, comfortable homes, digitally connected to schools and offices; and those whose jobs force them to stay out, who can't afford to leave children un- attended, and whose homes lack the comforts that make lock- down bearable. Opening up the econ- omy to safeguard jobs and busi- nesses also exposed front-liners like medics, health workers and teachers to greater and possibly lethal dangers. In this scenario, trade unions only feebly made the case for a more widespread use of teleworking. But unions in different sectors did not unite in support of front-liners' calls for caution and restraint. Disposable foreigners and nervous natives The chasm between disposable and exposed foreigners and in- creasingly nervous natives has grown. But hundreds of migrant workers were on the frontline: sanitising hospitals, nursing, collecting rubbish, delivering food and driving buses and taxis. Their underpaid work was more indispensable than ever. Others toiling in sectors like tourism were the first to feel the crunch. And irregular migrants living in open centres or in shared flats were more exposed to the virus due to the sheer im- possibility of maintaining social distance. Construction sites also served as a fertile ground for the spread of the disease. Yet despite this contribution to the economy, foreigners were more easily per- ceived as a threat and possible source of disease. This made the Maltese even more insensitive to the plight of immigrants strand- ed at sea, who were left at sea as the Maltese government took a hard-line stance with the EU to stop their entry when ports were closed. Subsequently Abela even tried to blame the spike in cases at the start of the second wave on a number of boat arrivals which included infected people. L-R: Charmaine Gauci, Robert Abela, Chris Fearne